The name "Malcolm" most frequently refers to (born Malcolm Little), a transformative African American leader and human rights activist during the civil rights movement . It also commonly refers to the titular character of the hit sitcom Malcolm in the Middle . Malcolm X (1925–1965)

: Unlike Martin Luther King Jr. , Malcolm initially rejected nonviolence, arguing for "armed self-defense" and the right of Black people to protect themselves "by any means necessary".

: Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, his childhood was marked by tragedy, including his father's death and his mother's institutionalization. While serving a prison term for burglary, he converted to Islam and joined the Nation of Islam (NOI) , where he eventually became a leading spokesman.

: A 2026 four-part miniseries titled Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair recently premiered on Disney+, reuniting the original cast to explore the characters as adults.

: After breaking with the NOI in 1964 and making a pilgrimage to Mecca, he adopted the name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz and moved toward a more internationalist, pan-humanist outlook before his assassination in February 1965. His story was popularized by The Autobiography of Malcolm X , published shortly after his death. Malcolm in the Middle

In pop culture, "Malcolm" refers to the genius protagonist played by Frankie Muniz in the FOX sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006).