Comments for the name Mallory

Variant spellings include Malerie, Mallery, Mallorie, Mallori, Mallerie, Malleri, and Malorie.

After considerable research, I am convinced that the "meaning" of "unfortunate" for this name is entirely in error and the victim of seriously sloppy syllabic interpretation. Mallory is indeed a French surname coming over to England with the Normans. Almost all Norman surnames were derived from a place name, and Mallory is no exception. There were at least two villages in France at that time called "Meillorie" (possible spelling). This village name is again derived from the linen breaking mills (meillories in French) that were located at these villages. Meillorie is from the ancient Latin root 'molere' (mele-), meaning to crush or grind with a turning motion, a mill. Simple deduction leads to the conclusion that, far from meaning 'unfortunate', Mallory means 'crusher'!

As I understand it, the reason experts on surnames believe that Mallory comes from the Old French word for "unlucky" is that all the earliest examples give the surname without any preposition. If it came from a place name, one would expect to find examples of persons with the name in medieval records where the name was given as "de Maloret". Plus all the early examples I've seen published do have a, not e, as the vowel in the first syllable. The oldest example, from Domesday Book in 1086, spells the name Maloret. So unless "biloxi" can find medieval references using "de" or with "e" in the first syllable, the expert opinion seems more likely to me.

I always loved the name Mallory - ever since I was a little girl. I used to read the Babysitters Club Books and my favourity character was Mallory. When I was pregnant with my daughter I named her Mallory because I always thought it was such a beautiful name.... and she is so beautiful so it's only right that I give her a beautiful name! I feel so bad when I read all the negative meanings that surround her name because I had no idea, but I wouldn't change her name for the world because she puts all those negative meanings to shame! She's wonderful!

This is the name of one half of the psychotic and murderous couple in the movie Natural Born Killers. The character Mallory Knox was played by Juliette Lewis.

In the 80's, one of the daughters on the TV show Family Ties.

Everytime I hear the name Mallory I think of a duck, a Mallard duck.

That is not a very good meaning.

Personally I know a Malorie, "unlucky" only describes the opposition she crushes. So guys be careful, she's a heartbreaker and business competitor, you'd better quit now while you still have a chance.

Nice name, I just don't like the meaning of it.

I think it is a fun name.

Mallory Grace is from the Spiderwick series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.

I love this name too. Except every time I hear it, I think of malaria.

George Mallory was an English mountaineer who took part in several expeditions to climb Mt. Everest. He disappeared on Everest in June of 1924.

I had a friend once, six years ago, named Mallory. I like the name. The name is really unisex for me, but if I really had to choose, I say it has just a hint more of masculine. By the way, Mallory was a girl.

I really love this name, I just don't like the meaning.

Awesome name! The meaning is sad but who really cares?

From old French meaning "to be mailed" in reference to a knight's armor.

Mallory is such a cute name! I think Mallory and Mathilda or Mallory and Ramona would be cute for sisters. I don't know why: the names just seem to go well together!

I luv this name! It's my fave. It's a pity it has a bad meaning though.

Some other spellings I've heard of include: Mallorey, Mallory, Malorie, Mallorie, Malloree, Malloriegh and Mallary. I have loved this name since I met the 1st little Mallory!

My name is Mallory and I love my name. Whenever I tell anyone what my name means they're like, "Don't let it bring you down." Why would I let it bring me down? I love my name and I find the meaning intresting and fun. Oh, and also I found out that 'mal' in french means 'bad'.

Mallory was the only 6th grader in the Babysitter's Club.

This name is very pretty and I don't think the meaning has any signifigance to a name what-so-ever. I think this is a fine name for a girl child. I wouldn't name my son this though. I can't find anything masculine about it what-so-ever. Nothing. Zip. Nada. None. So to me this is strictly a female name. So if you like it for a girl - or for a boy I guess - name her or him Mallory!

Mallory is an anglicisation of an old Irish name. Mal means servant, one possible translation is mal o righ - servant of the king. There are other possible words, but mal is a very common beginning to Irish names, like Malcolm, servant of st Columba.
Unfortunate is not a pleasant connotation for a name, if this were mine, I'd lay claim to the Irish association.

I love this name, but I hate its meaning.

I have a friend with this name, except it's spelled Malorey. I like it better than Mallory.

Quinn Mallory was a scientist who discovered a wormhole between parallel universes on the great but unfortunately canceled sci-fi series "Sliders". He was played by the very handsome Jerry O'Connell.

Ummm my name is Mallory, and I LOVE MY NAME. It is unique, classy, and will age with me, I believe. I think it is feminine but not cutesy-girly like names such as Tiffany or Brittany, and I am the only Mallory I know.

I think, meaning aside, it is an excellent, unique name that deserves more mention.

I like this name. I think it's really pretty.

It is unfortunate that this name means unfortunate.
An ok name, though.

I love the name Mallory. Even though it begins with "mal" which means bad, and unfortunate, is the meaning really that important? I don't think it matters. It is such a cute, and pretty name. It's pretty unique too. I've only met about two Mallorys. Although it's more modern and not very classic traditional, I would definitely name my future daughter Mallory. I love it.

Why not name your child "Benlory"? At least, it would mean the opposite... I'm kidding of course.

Cute name!

Somewhere between 'Mallard' and an *unfortunate* girl with braces- this name reeks of disgusting for me. I don't know why, it just does.

BEAUTIFUL name. ♥

I love this name! It's one of my friends names. But she spells it Malloreigh.

Another alternate spelling; Malori.

I really like this name! I just wish it meant something other than unfortunate...