Mallory Overview
- Meaning: Mallory means “an unfortunate person”.
- Gender: Mallory was traditionally a male name, but has recently been popularized as a female name.
- Origin: Mallory was created as a nickname for the French word “malheure,” meaning misfortune.
- Pronunciation: “mah-luh-ree”
- Popularity: Fairy popular in the US.
- Nicknames: Mal, Mals, Lori, Rory.
- Variations: Malorie, Malory, Malloree.
- Namesakes: Mallory Keaton, TV series character from Family Ties; Mallory Hagan, winner of Miss America 2013.
What Does Mallory Mean?
Mallory is primarily known to mean “an unfortunate person” or “ill-omened.” However, it also means “army counselor,” which comes from its original usage as a male name. This meaning is most popular in American states. In general, the name Mallory tends to mean “unlucky” across most languages.
Interestingly, when the name Mallory is used for a son, the French meaning changes to “wild spirit.” It was also a common surname in the US, UK, Canada, and Scotland in the late 1800s.
What is the Origin of the Name Mallory?
The name Mallory originates from the French nickname “malheure”, meaning unlucky and unfortunate. Mallory was commonly used as a surname in England until the French developed its negative meaning.
Regardless of its origin, the name Mallory remains a popular girl’s name in the US today. Many parents don’t hold much faith in superstition surrounding the name and don’t let it stop them from choosing a name they like for their child.
How Popular is the Name Mallory?
The name Mallory was most popular in 1986 when it hit the 83rd spot on the US list of top 1000 baby names. Since then, it has steadily declined in popularity. In recent years, the name Mallory has hovered around the 550 spot. Currently, the name Mallory is 546 on the top 1000 baby names list (1).
Many people nowadays may be unaware of the name Mallory’s origin story and therefore continue to choose it as a baby name.
How Do I Pronounce Mallory?
The name Mallory is pronounced “ma-luh-ree.” Some people may pronounce this name as “ma-low-ree,” but this is not the most common pronunciation. Typically the “o” in Mallory is pronounced as “uh.”
Is Mallory a Boy or Girl Name?
The name Mallory began as a typical boy’s name. It became a popular name for girls after the rise of the show Family Ties. Since then, Mallory has turned into a traditional name for baby girls.
Today, Mallory is used as a unisex name. However, the majority of those named Mallory in the US are girls.
Variations of Mallory
The name Mallory derives from the French word “malheure”, yet there are many variations of the name in other countries.
- Malin
- Malor
- Malory
- Malloree
- Mallorey
- Mallorie
- Malory
- Mallrie
Nicknames for Mallory
The name Mallory has plenty of nicknames to shorten the three-syllable mouthful. The variety of nicknames ensures that any Mallory can stand out from the crowd!
- Mal
- Mals
- Mallie
- Mally
- Lor
- Lori
- Lory
- Rory
Similar Names to Mallory
If the bleak origin of the name Mallory turns you away from it, there are other names similar to choose from instead.
- Amelia
- Hailey
- Lacey
- Macy
- Mahler
- Melanie
- Melody
- Meredith
- Molly
- Monica
- Natalie
- Oliver
- Owen
- Valerie
- Whitney
Middle Names for Mallory
Suppose you’re unsure about the name Mallory because of its less-than-ideal meaning. In that case, a positive middle name can balance this out.
- Adeline
- Anne
- Beth
- Claire
- Eden
- Elizabeth
- Elise
- Faith
- Grace
- Haven
- Irene
- Iris
- Jane
- Joy
- Kate
- Rae
- Rose
Sibling Names for Mallory
The name Mallory pairs well with sibling names despite its meaning. You can choose a name similar to Mallory or one with a more uplifting meaning.
- Camden
- Clark
- David
- John
- Leon
- Linden
- Madden
- Maddox
- Malcolm
- Marshall
- Sidney
- Thomas
- Trey
- Warren
- William
- Audrey
- Brenna
- Bridget
- Caroline
- Delphine
- Harriet
- Jade
- Juliet
- Maeve
- Maura
- Natalia
- Natalie
- Nina
- Nola
- Piper
- Tessa
- Vanessa
Famous People Named Mallory
Despite the name Mallory’s unfortunate meaning, various celebrities rose to fame while donning this name.
- Mallory Burdette: American tennis player.
- Mallory Deluce: Canadian ice hockey player.
- Mallory Diane “Mal” Pugh: American soccer player.
- Mallory Hagan: Miss America 2013.
- Mallory Reaves: American novelist.
- Mallory Sandler: American actress.
- Mallory Snyder: American model and TV personality.
Mallory in Pop Culture
The name Mallory is most common on TV shows but has some appearances in theater and literature as well.
- Mallory: character in TV series American Horror Story.
- Mallory Archer: character in TV series Archer.
- Mallory Dent: character in the TV series Veronica Mars.
- Mallory “Mouse” Dodge: the main character in Jennifer L. Armentrout’s novel The Problem with Forever.
- Mallory Hanson: character in Netflix series Grace and Frankie.
- Mallory Keaton: character in TV series Family Ties.
- Mallory Pike: character from beloved children’s book series The Baby-Sitter’s Club.
- Malory Towers: children’s book series by Enid Blyton.
- Mallory Wells: character in TV series Heartland.
Mallory FAQs
If you’re interested in learning more about the name Mallory, we’ve included some FAQs to browse through below.
What Does Mallory Mean in the Bible?
The name Mallory does not appear in the Bible. However, it is most popular amongst those who practice Christianity. The name Mallory is not a significant name within the Bible and is not one of the books of the Old or New Testament.
Is Mallory an Old Name?
Mallory was found in the US, UK, Canada, and Scotland as a surname sometime between 1840 and 1920 (2). New York had the highest population of Mallory families in 1840, with 101 families recorded.
Most citizens with the last name Mallory were either laborers or teachers. Many also worked as farmers, maids, cooks, and salesmen.
Why Do People Name Their Children Mallory?
When you know the meaning of the name Mallory, this is an obvious question. However, the name Mallory is still popular because it provides vintage vibes and a classic charm. There are children’s book characters such as Mallory from The Baby-Sitter’s Club that offer role models for young boys and girls named Mallory (3).
