Mallory is a unisex given name of Welsh origin, derived from the name Mallt-y-fach, which means "bearing a crooked forehead." It gained popularity as a female name in the 20th century but has been used for males historically and can still be found among boys' names. In its most common spelling, Mallory, it shares the same meaning with the Scottish surname Mallorie, which is of Norman origin, signifying "from the bright or fair marsh." The name Mallory is also associated with a notable male figure from the Middle Ages, Mallory the trouvère, who was an Old French poet active in the 13th century. Today, Mallory is often chosen as a given name for its unique sound and spelling while still retaining a strong historical foundation.
The name Mallory peaked in popularity during the mid-20th century, with a significant rise starting from the late 1940s to the early 1950s, reaching its highest point with 23 births in 1948 and 25 births in 1950. However, it started declining thereafter, falling below 10 births per year after 1967, except for a brief spike in 1971 (32 births). Since the late 1980s, Mallory has been used quite infrequently as a given name, with fewer than 15 births recorded annually. As of 2023, it appears that Mallory is still in use, but at a very low rate (6 births recorded). Overall, there have been a total of 1100 births with the name Mallory since 1914.