Malori
A feminine name with debated origins, potentially French meaning "unfortunate".
Name Census estimates that about 727 living Americans carry the first name Malori. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malori today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malori births was 1987 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malori. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
727
~ 1 in 471,464 Americans
Peak year
1987
57 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2021 SSA rank
#10,797
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Malori: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malori from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 258 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malori by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Malori during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Maloris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, California, Alabama recorded the most babies named Malori, while Louisiana, Alabama, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Malori
The name Malori is believed to have originated from the Old French language during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Latin word "malus," meaning "evil" or "bad," combined with the suffix "-ori," which was commonly used to form feminine names. This suggests that Malori may have initially been used as a diminutive or affectionate form of a name with a more negative connotation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malori can be found in the 14th-century French epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose," where it is mentioned as the name of a character. This literary reference indicates that the name was in use among the French nobility and upper classes during that time period.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Malori de Champagne was a French noblewoman and courtier at the court of King Charles VII. She is mentioned in historical records as a prominent figure in the royal court, suggesting that the name had gained popularity among the aristocracy.
During the Renaissance period, Malori Bianchi was an Italian painter and sculptor active in the 16th century. Born in Florence around 1510, she is known for her religious works and contributions to the Mannerist style of art.
Another historical figure bearing the name Malori was Malori de Montalembert, a French military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He was born in 1785 and served under Napoleon Bonaparte, distinguishing himself in several campaigns.
In the 20th century, Malori Granger was a British writer and poet born in 1912. She published several collections of poetry and was known for her lyrical and introspective works, earning critical acclaim during her lifetime.
While the name Malori has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these examples demonstrate its presence across various cultures and time periods, particularly in French, Italian, and British contexts. The name's origins and evolution reflect the influence of language, literature, and historical events on the development and usage of personal names.
People
Malori + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malori as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malori: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malori?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 727 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malori going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 471,464 US residents.
Is Malori a common name?
We classify Malori as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 751 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malori most popular?
The single biggest year for Malori was 1987, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malori is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malori a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malori in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.