Name profile

BoyPronounced English /ˈmæl.kəm/English language family

Malcolm

A name of United States origin meaning "disciple of Saint Columba".

Quick answer

Malcolm is a boy name with United States roots meaning "disciple of Saint Columba".

Pronunciation: English /ˈmæl.kəm/.

GenderBoy
OriginUnited States
Meaningdisciple of Saint Columba
PronunciationEnglish /ˈmæl.kəm/
Language familyEnglish

Meaning and history

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Máel Coluim, which means "disciple of Saint Columba ". This was the name of four kings of Scotland starting in the 10th century, including Malcolm III, who became king after killing Macbeth, the usurper who had defeated his father Duncan. The character Malcolm in Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth (1606) is loosely based on him. Another famous bearer was Malcolm X (1925-1965), an American civil rights leader.

Notes and context

Usage: scottish, english