The name Malachi is of Hebrew origin and means "messenger of God". It is derived from the Hebrew word "mal'akhi", which is a combination of the words "mal'ach" meaning messenger, and "Yah" which refers to God. The name Malachi is featured in the Old Testament of the Bible as the name of one of the twelve minor prophets.
Malachi was born into a family of priests during the time of the Babylonian captivity. His prophecies were written around 430 BCE, after the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. Malachi's prophecy focused on themes such as the corruption of the priesthood, the importance of tithing, and the coming day of judgment.
The name Malachi was initially more common among Jewish communities but gained popularity among Christians due to its biblical association. Today, it is considered a unisex name but is still more commonly given to boys.
In literature and arts, Malachi has been used as a character's name in various works such as the novel "Malachi" by Gary Shteyngart and the video game series "Gears of War". However, it is most notably associated with the Book of Malachi in the Bible.
The name Malachi experienced significant growth in popularity from the early 1970s onwards, with a notable spike starting around 1991. Between 1880 and 1970, there were fewer than 40 recorded births per year on average. However, this trend dramatically changed in the 1990s, with over 200 Malachis born annually by 1993, peaking at a high of 2775 births in 2006. Despite a slight dip after 2006, the name has maintained significant popularity, with an average of around 2400 births per year between 2007 and 2022.