Malory as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Malory

What is the meaning of the name Malory ?

The baby name Malory is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmæləri/ (MAL-uh-ree).

Malory is in Origin.

From the Norman French surname Mallory/Malory, the name traces to Old French mal + heur (“bad” + “luck”), yielding the sense “unlucky,” later softened to associations with fate and resilience. It entered England with the Normans and became widely borne as a surname in medieval records; its most famous bearer is Sir Thomas Malory (15th c.), author of Le Morte d’Arthur. As a given name, Malory emerged in the 19th century and found broader Anglophone usage in the late 20th century, now used for all genders but especially girls in the US and UK.

Common variants and spellings include Mallory (dominant form), Malorie, Mallorie, Malori, Mallery, and the French-influenced Mallaury; nicknames include Mal and Lory/Lorie. The single‑l Malory offers a streamlined, literary-leaning choice that preserves the surname’s heritage while giving a modern, unisex profile.