Mahlon is a unique and uncommon name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "chalal," which means "to be weak" or "feeble." Despite its potentially negative connotation, Mahlon has a significant historical context within the Bible.
In the Old Testament, Mahlon was the son of Elimelech and Naomi, and the husband of Ruth, who became one of the great-grandmothers of King David. The story of Ruth is one of love, loyalty, and redemption. After Mahlon's death, his wife Ruth chose to remain faithful to her mother-in-law Naomi despite the hardships they faced.
Thus, while the name Mahlon may not have a particularly inspiring meaning on its own, it carries great historical significance within the narrative of the Bible. It is associated with love, loyalty, and resilience in the face of adversity, which could make it an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep-rooted meaning.
The name Mahlon has been given to a total of 5562 babies born in the United States between 1880 and 2023, according to available records. The number of births per year varied significantly over this period.
In the late 19th century, there were an average of around 7-14 births per year with peaks in certain years such as 1896 (18 births) and 1902 (11 births). However, from the early 20th century onwards, the number of annual births with the name Mahlon began to rise steadily. The most notable increases were seen during World War I, with a peak of 79 births in 1916, and another peak of 95 births in 1919.
After a slight decline in the 1920s and 1930s, the number of annual births began to stabilize around an average of 40-80 births per year throughout most of the mid-20th century. There were brief spikes in popularity during certain decades, such as the late 1940s (75 births in 1948 and 77 births in 1949) and the early 1960s (37 births in 1964).
More recently, the number of annual births with the name Mahlon has remained relatively consistent, fluctuating between approximately 25 to 50 births per year since the 1980s. The most recent data shows that there were 52 births in 2022 and 42 births in 2023.
Overall, while the name Mahlon has not been among the most popular choices for parents in the United States, it has maintained a consistent presence throughout history, with fluctuations in popularity over time.