Back in the 80s, Madison the mermaid splashed her way onto the streets of New York and fueled the last-names-first trend. At the same time, on the small screen, a similar choice was gaining notice of her own.
Thanks to Jess for suggesting today’s Name of the Day: Mallory.
Odds are that you’ve seen an episode of Family Ties, which followed the life of the Keaton family on NBC from 1982 to 1989 and launched the career of Michael J. Fox. Justine Bateman played Mallory, the sweet slacker daughter. If the writers ever mentioned the rationale for using such an unusual moniker – especially when their other kids went by Alex, Jennifer and Andrew – the reference isn’t readily available.
Regardless, it was a good decade for the name. While the very feminine Jennifer, Jessica and Amanda remained firmly at the top of the heap, other trends were gaining speed. Popular two-syllable, ends-in-y choices, often borrowed from the boys, included Ashley, Lindsey/Lindsay and Whitney. Last names like Jordan, Kendall, Darcy, Taylor and of course, Madison, all appeared in the Top 1000.
Mallory debuted at #334 in 1983, a year after Family Ties first aired. Three years later, she peaked at #86. While the name has dropped steadily since then, it remains far from obscure – #247 in 2007.
We suspect that Mallory has failed to reach the heights of similar names because of her unfortunate meaning – literally. Originally an English surname, it has French Norman roots – evolving from Malorie to Malory to today’s most familiar version. Any one with a smattering of high school French can unpack the etymology. The bit “mal” is attached to words not unlike the English “un” – heureux is happy; malheureux is the opposite. In Old French, maleüré would have translated to ill-omened, and so the commonly given meanings for the name are luckless, unfortunate, unhappy.
One of the best known bearers of the surname was early 20th century mountaineer George Mallory. He perished on his third attempt to peak Everest. Unfortunately, no one knows if he made it to the top or not. And, of course, there’s Sir Thomas Malory, the 15th century author of Le Morte d’Arthur. While little is known of Malory’s life, his name appears in the historical record with some frequency – he was often arrested and imprisoned.
Those two figures aside, there have been plenty of perfectly well-adjusted bearers of the surname. While we’re not overly focused on the meanings listed in baby name dictionaries, we’ll admit that this one – combined with the ill-fated explorer’s tale – gives us pause.
Still, we suspect that there will be a steady stream of parents willing to overlook that defect. The name has remained visible as Mallory Dent, a first-season character on the CW’s Veronica Mars and the faerie-fencing Mallory Grace in children’s book series, The Spiderwick Chronicles.
While you won’t hear it in use internationally, it also has the feel of a logical choice in the US. Mackenzie is past her moment, but Delaney is hovering at the fringes of the Top 200. And with some parents considering choices like Devony and Romilly, Mallory seems relatively conservative.
On balance, we find Mallory a reasonable option for parents who like the idea of a surname-inspired choice, but want something that reads strongly feminine. She’s never been a chart-topper, so chances are that your Mallory won’t share her name with many others – but it will feel nicely familiar.
Allison, LOL at your Latin!
Dear me, Mhalleriey – that’s so bizarre! It makes Malerie look perfectly normal – except not.
Lory is a cute nickname – and sidesteps all the malfeeling. 🙂
I love Mallory; it was on my shortlist for a girl. I wanted an “M,” and I have a thing for surnames. I’ve been a nurse for a long time, though, and I can’t get past the nickname “Mal.” Malpractice, malaise, malignancy, malaria. Still like the name, just couldn’t do it myself. Am pretty sure mal- is from the Latin for “you better hope your HMO is gonna cover this.”
My first association with the name is the Babysitters Club books also. I’m kind of neutral about this name- it’s not my favorite, but I’ve heard worse. I know a ten year old who spells her name Malerie, like Valerie with an M. It’s always bugged me.
I like Mallory, despite its meaning. It is alot prettier to me than Madison (which I can’t stand! And I hate the nickname Maddie) I’m not sure I would use it for any of my future daughters, but it’s still nice.
While Mallory is a cute name, the alternate spellings Mallorie, Mallery, Malorie, etc. are really flimsy. I actually knew someone who spelled it Mhalleriey. Good thing she just goes by Ally, ‘cuz her full name is a pain to write out. Now that should be child abuse. Alternate spellings are evil, not to mention confusing and just plain stupid.
I actually like Mallory. It’s a pretty name that isn’t too girly or frilly. I think it would be an interesting choice for a daughter either as a first name or a middle name. Like Lola said, it would be nice to hear Mallory instead of Mackenzie/Madison and Mallory gets a thumbs up from me too!
Hey, just thinking.. instead of Mal, how about Lory? Seems a decent nickname (Just don’t call this Laura anything buut Lola!) 😀
I worked with a guy named Malvern and called Mal. While he was sweet, he was the kind of intensely pessimistic, sky-is-falling kind of person that could really make you sure and certain that the world was ending. Now. Right now.
So while Mallory has some appeal to me, I always think of Eeyore – my private nickname for Malvern – when I hear it. If not for that connection, I think I’d like it more.
Kayt, was one of the Babysitters named Mallory? I’m just a smidge too old to have read them.
It will always remind me of Justine Bateman. I like the name as a whole, but the nickname Mal isn’t my cup of tea. When we were kids, Mallory was my brother’s favorite name. He said that if he had a daughter one day, he’d name her Mallory. I think he had it bad for Ms Bateman. Anyway, he has no kids yet, so we shall see.
Indeed, Mallory feels quite conservatively yuppie to me, nicely matching Alex, Jennifer & Andrew. 🙂
I don’t outright hate Mallory, she’s been around long enough for me to get used to her and while I’m not fond of her meaning, it’s not the main deterrent for me. Thomas Malory is. The misogynist he was *really* rubs me the wrong way. I have a nitpick with “Spiderwick” too.. Mallory, Simon & ….Jared? The twins just feel oddly paired (and I adore Freddie Highmore!) but Jared really bugged me as a choice. Classic surnamey feel for the girl, classic biblical boy and… ? Jared’s Hebrew, I know but has been repelled so many times (Jarod, Jarred, Jerrod, Jerod, Jarrod…) that he just doesn’t feel the smae as the others. The related Adam would have suited better.
/nitpick.
Mallory would actually be refreshing today, after that swell of Mackenzies/Madisons. A nice, classic choice in the sea of surnames for girls that abound today. Mallory get a nice :thumbsup: from me.
I’m sorry, I hate it. I find it dated and tired. It also makes me think of the Babysitter’s Club books from my childhood. And really, I just can’t get past the meaning. It’s just too blatantly bad for me to use without a strong family connection to the name.