Given name & surname
Malory
“an unlucky young woman; ill-fated”·“an unlucky young man; ill-fated”
Malory is a variant of Mallory. Interpretations include “an unlucky young woman; ill-fated” (French) and “an unlucky young man; ill-fated” (French). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Malory is a variant of Mallory. Interpretations include “an unlucky young woman; ill-fated” (French) and “an unlucky young man; ill-fated” (French). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Malory is a variant of Mallory. An origin associated with Mallory is Old French.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1983. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Malory is a variant of Mallory. The history of Mallory gives this family its wider story. Mallory’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Malory through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,399
- 0 boys · 1,399 girls
- Most popular year
- 1987
- 85 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #8,163 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +31%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,163 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 85 in 1987. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,445 as a first name in 2020; 119 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Malory’s family of names
Malory has a related form in Mallory. In Greek usage, Malory as a surname is a transliteration of Μάλορυ.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Malory, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Malorie
“an unlucky young woman; ill-fated” · “an unlucky young man; ill-fated”
>99% girls
Mallorie
“an unlucky young woman; ill-fated” · “an unlucky young man; ill-fated”
>99% girls
Mayra
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Alona
“one who is as strong as an oak”
>99% girls
Mai
“wheat”
>99% girls
Hillary
“a cheerful woman; bringer of joy”
>99% girls
Malika
“destined to be queen”
>99% girls
Marlena
Marlena is a feminine given name. It is used in English, Polish, Catalan, and Faroese.
>99% girls