Mallory

Meaning of Mallory

Anchored in Norman-French etymology, Mallory originates from the Old French descriptor “malheure” or “malore”—terms denoting misfortune—yet, through centuries of Anglo-American usage, the word’s unfavorable semantic shade has largely been eclipsed by its aristocratic cadence and literary pedigree. The name entered English records as a surname borne by knights in the wake of the Norman Conquest, the most eminent of whom, Sir Thomas Malory, compiled “Le Morte d’Arthur,” thereby securing an enduring Arthurian association; in modern culture it resurfaced as a given name for women, rising sharply in the United States during the 1980s after the primetime visibility of the character Mallory Keaton on the sitcom “Family Ties” and gaining further recognition through historical references to the mountaineer George Mallory. Contemporary frequency data reveal a gradual ebb from its 1987 peak (No. 91) to a stable mid-range position in recent years, suggesting that the name has transitioned from fashion crest to steady classic, retaining enough rarity to feel distinctive while remaining familiar in sound. Phonetically rendered as MAL-uh-ree (/ˌmæl.ə.ri/), Mallory balances a brisk, confident opening with a lilting conclusion, qualities that—together with its layered history—offer parents a choice that is at once scholarly, subtly adventurous, and unmistakably Anglo-American in character.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as MAL-uh-ree (/ˌmæl.ə.ˌri/)

• Marley
• Madison
• Melanie
• Marcella
• Molly
• Mabel
• Marlowe