Malcolm vs Roderick
Malcolm and Roderickcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1990, Malcolm was ranked #256 and Roderick #323 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Malcolm was ranked #352 and Roderick #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Malcolm was ranked #1162 and Roderick #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Malcolm and Roderick over time
Malcolm and Roderick appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Malcolm held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Roderick in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Malcolm reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Roderick 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Malcolm and Roderick changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 1990, ending at #256 and #323.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Malcolm and Roderick averaged 37.8 places apart, ending at #256 and #323.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Malcolm #472 in 1996, Roderick #1040 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Malcolm held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Roderick in 1.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #472 in 1996, Roderick #1040 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Malcolm #1162, Roderick #5119.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1964–1990
Malcolm held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Roderick in 3.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #127 in 1966, Roderick #146 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Malcolm #256, Roderick #323.
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 | Malcolm | Roderick |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'disciple' or 'servant of Saint Columba'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmælkəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Malcolm has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim); Roderick does not have one recorded yet.
- Malcolm has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Roderick.
- A meaning is recorded for Malcolm; Roderick doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Malcolm
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #52 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Roderick
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #146 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–1990).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys