Leon vs Malachi
Leon and Malachicompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Malachi #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Malachi #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Leon was ranked #95 and Malachi #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Malachi #290 among boys in England and Wales.
Leon and Malachi over time
Leon and Malachi appear together in 3 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Leon held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Malachi in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Malachi reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leon in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Malachi #191 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Malachi #290.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1975–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Malachi #290 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Malachi #577.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2003–2023
Leon held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leon #91 in 2009, Malachi #210 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leon #95, Malachi #312.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Leon | Malachi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek λέων (leon), meaning 'lion'. Merged with the Latin cognate Leo during the Christian era, making the two forms largely interchangeable across Europe; also used among medieval English Jews. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Malachi does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Malachi.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Malachi doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Malachi a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Leon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Malachi
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #290 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #191 among boys in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys