Some parents choose names with dark meanings to confuse evil spirits, protect fragile newborns, or simply honor a difficult time of birth. Bad luck names exist in nearly every culture, from Japanese to Kikongo, French to Sanskrit.
Every name in this list carries one verified meaning: bad luck, misfortune, ill-fated, or unlucky.
Boy Names That Mean Bad Luck
Mallory
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Unfortunate, bad luck
- Description: Derived from Old French maleüré meaning “unfortunate.” Originally a male name in medieval France before crossing over to feminine use.
Anay
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: Derived from Sanskrit anay meaning “misfortune.” A rare Indian masculine name with a direct bad luck meaning.
Nhamo
- Origin: Shona (Zimbabwe)
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Shona name from Zimbabwe meaning “misfortune.” Given to boys born during a period of hardship in the family.
Makiadi
- Origin: Kikongo (Central Africa)
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Kikongo name from the Congo region meaning “misfortune.” Used across genders in Kongo-speaking communities.
Luvinda
- Origin: Mbunda (Zambia/Angola)
- Meaning: Hard luck, misfortune
- Description: A name from the Mbunda language meaning “hard luck.” Given to children born during difficult family circumstances.
Owiti
- Origin: Luo (East Africa)
- Meaning: Born after a misfortune
- Description: A Luo name from Kenya and Uganda meaning “born after a misfortune.” Given to boys following an unlucky event in the family.
Fuun
- Origin: Japanese (不運)
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The Japanese word fuun (不運) means exactly “bad luck.” Used in dark and fictional Japanese naming contexts.
Yakubyou
- Origin: Japanese (厄病)
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: Rooted in the Japanese yaku (厄) meaning misfortune or calamity — a direct bad luck name in Japanese tradition.
Yakuotoko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Man of bad luck
- Description: A Japanese compound of yaku (misfortune) and otoko (man) — directly meaning “man of bad luck.”
Suiun
- Origin: Japanese (衰運)
- Meaning: Declining luck, bad fortune
- Description: The Japanese word suiun (衰運) means “declining luck” or “falling fortune” — used in Japanese naming for figures representing misfortune.
Ashagna
- Origin: Amharic (Ethiopia)
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: An Ethiopian name in Amharic meaning “unlucky.” Given to boys born into difficult circumstances.
Malheur
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The French word for misfortune — malheur — is the direct root from which the name Mallory descends. Used as a rare given name in French literary tradition.
Malchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill chance
- Description: The French word malchance means exactly “bad luck” — mal (bad) plus chance (luck). Used in French gothic and literary naming.
Bolvar
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: Misfortune, bane
- Description: Derived from Old Norse bǫl meaning “misfortune” or “bane.” A Norse masculine name rooted directly in the concept of bad luck.
Malasuerte
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The Spanish compound for bad luck — mala (bad) plus suerte (luck) — used as a rare masculine name in Latin American literary tradition.
Dystyches
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky, ill-fated
- Description: Derived from Greek dys (bad) and tyche (luck/fortune) — directly meaning “one of bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakotychos
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Of bad luck, unlucky
- Description: A Greek compound of kakos (bad) and tyche (luck) — literally “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Durbhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: A direct Sanskrit compound — dur (bad) plus bhagya (luck/fortune) — meaning exactly “bad luck.” Used in Indian naming traditions.
Abhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Unlucky, without luck
- Description: From Sanskrit a (without) and bhagya (luck) — directly meaning “one without luck” or “the unlucky one.”
Naseeb-e-Bad
- Origin: Urdu / Persian
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill fate
- Description: A direct Urdu compound of naseeb (fate/luck) and bad (bad) — meaning “bad luck” or “ill fate” in Urdu and Persian tradition.
Unique Girl Names That Mean Bad Luck
Mallory
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Bad luck, unfortunate
- Description: The most widely used real feminine name with a verified bad luck meaning — from Old French maleüré meaning “unfortunate.” Most parents today are unaware of its original meaning.
Desdemona
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Ill-fated, unlucky
- Description: Derived from Greek dysdaimon meaning “ill-fated.” Made famous by Shakespeare’s Othello — a name that literally means “one born under bad luck.”
Anaya
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The feminine form of Anay, derived from Sanskrit anay meaning “misfortune.” A rare Indian feminine name with an exact bad luck meaning.
Awiti
- Origin: Luo (East Africa)
- Meaning: Born after a misfortune
- Description: A Luo feminine name from Kenya and Uganda meaning “born after a misfortune.” Given to girls following a period of bad luck in the family.
Nhamo
- Origin: Shona (Zimbabwe)
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Shona name meaning “misfortune” — used for girls born when the family was facing hardship or bad luck.
Symphora
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: Derived from Greek symphora meaning “misfortune.” Used in ancient Greek and early Roman naming traditions for girls.
Makiadi
- Origin: Kikongo (Central Africa)
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Kikongo feminine name meaning “misfortune” — given to girls during difficult family times in Central African communities.
Luvinda
- Origin: Mbunda (Zambia/Angola)
- Meaning: Hard luck, misfortune
- Description: Used as a feminine name in Mbunda-speaking communities meaning “hard luck” — given when the family faced misfortune at birth.
Malheureuse
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unlucky woman, unfortunate
- Description: The feminine French form of malheureux — directly meaning “unlucky” or “unfortunate woman.” A rare French name with an exact bad luck meaning.
Dysmona
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Ill-fated, of bad luck
- Description: Derived from Greek dys (bad) and daimon (fate/luck) — sharing the same root as Desdemona and meaning “one of bad fate.”
Yakuonna
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Woman of bad luck
- Description: A Japanese compound of yaku (misfortune) and onna (woman) — directly meaning “woman of bad luck.”
Fuun
- Origin: Japanese (不運)
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The Japanese word for bad luck (不運) used as a feminine name in dark and fictional Japanese naming contexts.
Ashagna
- Origin: Amharic (Ethiopia)
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: A feminine Ethiopian name in Amharic meaning “unlucky” — used for girls born into difficult circumstances.
Malasuerte
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The Spanish word for bad luck used as a rare feminine name in Latin American literary and cultural tradition.
Durbhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: A Sanskrit compound of dur (bad) and bhagya (luck) — directly meaning “bad luck.” Used as a feminine name in Indian tradition.
Abhagyavati
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Unlucky woman, woman of bad luck
- Description: A Sanskrit feminine name from abhagya (without luck) and vati (one who has) — meaning “a woman of bad luck.”
Dystychia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The feminine Greek form of dystyches — from dys (bad) and tyche (luck) — directly meaning “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Suiun
- Origin: Japanese (衰運)
- Meaning: Declining luck, bad fortune
- Description: The Japanese word for “declining luck” used as a feminine name in Japanese fictional and dark naming traditions.
Malchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The French word for bad luck used as a rare feminine name — mal (bad) plus chance (luck).
Kakotychis
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky woman, woman of bad luck
- Description: The feminine Greek form of kakotychos — combining kakos (bad) and tyche (luck) — meaning “woman of bad luck.”
Unisex Names That Mean Bad Luck
Mallory
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Bad luck, unfortunate
- Description: Originally masculine in France, now used across genders — Mallory’s meaning of “bad luck” applies regardless of gender.
Makiadi
- Origin: Kikongo
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A fully unisex Kikongo name meaning “misfortune” — used for both boys and girls in Central African communities.
Nhamo
- Origin: Shona
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A unisex Shona name meaning “misfortune” — given to any child born during a time of family hardship.
Luvinda
- Origin: Mbunda
- Meaning: Hard luck, misfortune
- Description: A unisex Mbunda name from Zambia and Angola meaning “hard luck.”
Fuun
- Origin: Japanese (不運)
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The Japanese word for bad luck — a unisex name used in dark and fictional Japanese naming contexts.
Anay / Anaya
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: Anay (masculine) and Anaya (feminine) share the same Sanskrit root meaning “misfortune” — making the name effectively unisex.
Ashagna
- Origin: Amharic
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: A unisex Ethiopian name used across genders in Amharic-speaking communities meaning “unlucky.”
Malchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The French word for bad luck used as a unisex name in literary traditions — mal (bad) plus chance (luck).
Malasuerte
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The Spanish word for bad luck — used as a unisex name in Latin American storytelling and fictional naming.
Yakubyou
- Origin: Japanese (厄病)
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A unisex Japanese name rooted in yaku (misfortune) — used across genders in Japanese dark naming traditions.
Durbhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: A unisex Sanskrit name directly meaning “bad luck” — used across genders in Indian naming tradition.
Abhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Unlucky, without luck
- Description: A unisex Sanskrit name meaning “one without luck” — used for both boys and girls in Indian communities.
Suiun
- Origin: Japanese (衰運)
- Meaning: Declining luck
- Description: A unisex Japanese name meaning “declining luck” — used in fictional and dark naming contexts across genders.
Symphora
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: An Ancient Greek unisex name meaning “misfortune” — used in early Greek and Roman naming traditions.
Owiti / Awiti
- Origin: Luo (East Africa)
- Meaning: Born after a misfortune
- Description: Owiti (masculine) and Awiti (feminine) share the same Luo root meaning “born after a misfortune” — effectively unisex.
Japanese Names That Mean Bad Luck
Fuun (不運)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The exact Japanese word for “bad luck” — fu (not/bad) plus un (luck/fortune) — the most direct Japanese name meaning bad luck.
Yakubyou (厄病)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck plague
- Description: Rooted in yaku (厄) meaning misfortune or calamity — a Japanese name directly meaning a stroke of bad luck.
Suiun (衰運)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Declining luck, falling fortune
- Description: Sui (衰, decline) plus un (運, luck) — directly meaning “declining luck” or “fortune that has turned bad.”
Yakuotoko (厄男)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Man of bad luck
- Description: Yaku (misfortune) plus otoko (man) — a direct Japanese compound meaning “a man of bad luck.”
Yakuonna (厄女)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Woman of bad luck
- Description: Yaku (misfortune) plus onna (woman) — a direct Japanese compound meaning “a woman of bad luck.”
Fuunji (不運児)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Child of bad luck
- Description: Fuun (bad luck) plus ji (child) — a Japanese compound meaning “child of bad luck” or “unlucky child.”
Akuun (悪運)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck, evil fortune
- Description: Aku (悪, bad/evil) plus un (運, luck) — directly meaning “bad luck” or “evil fortune” in Japanese.
Fukou (不幸)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck, unhappiness
- Description: Fu (不, not) plus kou (幸, happiness/luck) — a Japanese name directly meaning “misfortune” or “bad luck.”
Sainan (災難)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck, calamity
- Description: The Japanese word sainan (災難) means “misfortune” or “calamity” — a direct bad luck name in Japanese tradition.
Yakku (厄苦)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Suffering of bad luck
- Description: Yaku (misfortune) plus ku (suffering) — a Japanese compound meaning “the suffering of bad luck.”
Fuunsei (不運星)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Star of bad luck
- Description: Fuun (bad luck) plus sei (star) — meaning “born under the star of bad luck” in Japanese naming tradition.
Fuku-nashi (福無し)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Without luck, luckless
- Description: Fuku (luck/fortune) plus nashi (without) — directly meaning “one without luck” in Japanese.
Yakudoshi (厄年)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Year of bad luck
- Description: The Japanese term for an unlucky year — yaku (misfortune) plus doshi (year) — used as a name for those born in a cursed year.
Warui-Un (悪い運)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: A direct Japanese phrase meaning “bad luck” — warui (bad) plus un (luck) — used in naming for those considered unlucky.
Akuyaku (悪役)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Ill-fated role, bad luck villain
- Description: Aku (bad) plus yaku (role/misfortune) — a Japanese name meaning “one born to bad luck.”
Fuunmei (不運命)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fate of bad luck
- Description: Fuun (bad luck) plus mei (fate/destiny) — meaning “one whose fate is bad luck” in Japanese.
Unwarui (運悪い)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Unlucky, bad fortune
- Description: A Japanese compound directly meaning “unlucky” or “of bad fortune” — un (luck) plus warui (bad).
Yakujin (厄神)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: God of misfortune, bad luck deity
- Description: Yaku (misfortune) plus jin (god/person) — meaning “person of the bad luck deity” in Japanese mythology and naming.
Sainannin (災難人)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Person of misfortune
- Description: Sainan (misfortune) plus nin (person) — a Japanese compound directly meaning “person of bad luck.”
Kouurunashi (好運無し)
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Without good luck, luckless
- Description: Kouun (good luck) plus nashi (without) — directly meaning “one without good luck” in Japanese.
Last Names That Mean Bad Luck
Mallory
- Origin: Old French / English
- Meaning: Bad luck, unfortunate
- Description: One of the most documented surnames with an exact bad luck meaning — from Old French maleüré meaning “unfortunate.” Historically given as a surname to those considered unlucky.
Malheur
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The French surname Malheur meaning “misfortune” — documented in French records as a family name tied to ill fortune.
Malchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The French surname directly meaning “bad luck” — mal (bad) plus chance (luck) — documented in French genealogical records.
Fuun
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The Japanese surname Fuun (不運) meaning exactly “bad luck” — used in Japanese family naming traditions.
Nhamo
- Origin: Shona
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Shona surname from Zimbabwe meaning “misfortune” — family names in Shona often reflect circumstances at birth.
Makiadi
- Origin: Kikongo
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Kikongo family name from Central Africa meaning “misfortune” — passed down as a surname in Kongo communities.
Durbhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: A Sanskrit surname directly meaning “bad luck” — found in Indian family naming traditions across regions.
Abhagya
- Origin: Sanskrit / Hindi
- Meaning: Unlucky, without luck
- Description: A Sanskrit surname meaning “without luck” — documented in Indian naming records as a family name.
Akuun
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck, evil fortune
- Description: A Japanese family name from aku (bad) and un (luck) — meaning “bad luck” as a documented Japanese surname.
Suiun
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Declining luck
- Description: A Japanese surname meaning “declining luck” or “bad fortune” — used in Japanese family naming contexts.
Dystyches
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky
- Description: An Ancient Greek surname form meaning “unlucky” — derived from dys (bad) and tyche (luck).
Malasuerte
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: A Spanish surname directly meaning “bad luck” — mala (bad) plus suerte (luck) — documented in Latin American records.
Luvinda
- Origin: Mbunda
- Meaning: Hard luck, misfortune
- Description: A Mbunda family name from Zambia and Angola meaning “hard luck” — passed down as a surname in Mbunda communities.
Kakotychos
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Of bad luck
- Description: A Greek surname from kakos (bad) and tyche (luck) — directly meaning “one of bad luck” in Greek family naming.
Sainan
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Japanese surname meaning “misfortune” or “calamity” — used in Japanese family records as a bad luck name.
Warui-Un
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: A Japanese surname compound directly meaning “bad luck” — warui (bad) plus un (luck).
Yakubyou
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Japanese family name rooted in yaku (misfortune) — used in dark naming traditions as a surname.
Naseeb-e-Bad
- Origin: Urdu / Persian
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill fate
- Description: An Urdu/Persian family name directly meaning “bad luck” — naseeb (fate) plus bad (bad).
Symphora
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune
- Description: An Ancient Greek surname meaning “misfortune” — documented in Greek and Roman naming records.
Fuunmei
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fate of bad luck
- Description: A Japanese compound surname meaning “one whose fate is bad luck” — used in Japanese genealogical tradition.
Greek Names That Mean Bad Luck
Desdemona
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Ill-fated, unlucky
- Description: From Greek dysdaimon — dys (bad) plus daimon (fate/luck) — directly meaning “one who is ill-fated” or “of bad luck.”
Dystyches
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky, of bad luck
- Description: From Greek dys (bad) and tyche (luck/fortune) — a direct Ancient Greek name meaning “one of bad luck.”
Dystychia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The feminine form of dystyches — dys (bad) plus tyche (luck) — directly meaning “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakotychos
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Of bad luck, unlucky
- Description: From Greek kakos (bad) and tyche (luck) — a compound directly meaning “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakotychis
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky woman, woman of bad luck
- Description: The feminine form of kakotychos — combining kakos (bad) and tyche (luck) — meaning “woman of bad luck.”
Symphora
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: From the Greek symphora meaning “misfortune” — a direct Ancient Greek name used in Greek and Roman traditions.
Dysdaimon
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Ill-fated, of bad luck
- Description: The root form of Desdemona — dys (bad) plus daimon (fate/luck) — directly meaning “of bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Dysdaimonia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: State of bad luck, ill fortune
- Description: The noun form of dysdaimon — meaning “the state of being ill-fated” or “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Atychia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: From Greek a (without) and tyche (luck) — directly meaning “without luck” or “misfortune” in Ancient Greek.
Atychos
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky, without luck
- Description: The masculine form of atychia — from a (without) and tyche (luck) — directly meaning “unlucky” in Ancient Greek.
Dysmoira
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad fate, ill luck
- Description: From Greek dys (bad) and moira (fate/lot) — directly meaning “bad fate” or “ill luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakodaimonia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: From Greek kakos (bad) and daimon (spirit/fate) — directly meaning “bad luck” or “ill fortune” in Ancient Greek.
Apotychia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Failure of luck, bad luck
- Description: From Greek apo (away/from) and tyche (luck) — meaning “loss of luck” or “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Dustychos
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Unlucky, of ill fortune
- Description: An alternate form of dystyches — from dys (bad) and tyche (luck) — meaning “unlucky” in Ancient Greek.
Symphorion
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: Derived from symphora (misfortune) — a masculine Greek name meaning “misfortune” or “bad luck.”
Dyskleia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Ill fame, bad luck
- Description: From Greek dys (bad) and kleia (fame/glory) — meaning “of ill fame” or “born under bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakomoiria
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Bad fate, ill luck
- Description: From kakos (bad) and moira (fate) — directly meaning “bad fate” or “ill luck” in Ancient Greek.
Dustychia
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: An alternate feminine form of dystychia — meaning “misfortune” or “bad luck” in Ancient Greek.
Amoiros
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Without luck, luckless
- Description: From Greek a (without) and moira (luck/fate) — directly meaning “luckless” or “one without luck” in Ancient Greek.
Kakotychias
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Of bad luck
- Description: A genitive form of kakotychos used as a given name — meaning “one of bad luck” in Ancient Greek naming tradition.
Korean Names That Mean Bad Luck
Bul-un (불운)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The exact Korean word for “bad luck” — bul (不, not/bad) plus un (運, luck) — the most direct Korean name meaning bad luck.
Akun (악운)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Bad luck, evil fortune
- Description: Korean ak (惡, bad/evil) plus un (運, luck) — directly meaning “bad luck” or “evil fortune” in Korean.
Bulhaeng (불행)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck, unhappiness
- Description: Korean bul (不, not) plus haeng (幸, luck/happiness) — directly meaning “misfortune” or “bad luck.”
Jaean (재앙)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Misfortune, calamity, bad luck
- Description: The Korean word jaean (災殃) means “misfortune” or “calamity” — a direct bad luck name in Korean tradition.
Bul-gil (불길)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Bad omen, bad luck
- Description: Korean bul (不, bad) plus gil (吉, luck/omen) — directly meaning “bad omen” or “bad luck” in Korean.
Akhaeng (악행)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Ill fortune, bad luck
- Description: From Korean ak (bad) and haeng (fortune/luck) — directly meaning “ill fortune” or “bad luck.”
Un-i-Nappeu (운이 나쁜)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Unlucky, one of bad luck
- Description: The Korean phrase for “unlucky” — un (luck) plus nappeu (bad) — directly meaning “one whose luck is bad.”
Bul-un-a (불운아)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Child of bad luck
- Description: Korean bul-un (bad luck) plus a (child) — directly meaning “child of bad luck” in Korean naming tradition.
Saehaeng-bul (재행불)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A Korean compound rooted in misfortune — used in Korean dark naming traditions to represent bad luck.
Bulbok (불복)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Without luck, luckless
- Description: Korean bul (不, without) plus bok (福, luck/blessing) — directly meaning “without luck” or “luckless.”
Akbol (악볼)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill fate
- Description: A Korean name rooted in ak (bad) meaning bad fortune — used in Korean naming for those born under ill luck.
Jaaeun (재은)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Misfortune bestowed, bad luck given
- Description: A Korean compound meaning “one upon whom misfortune was bestowed” — used in Korean tradition for unlucky births.
Bul-un-i (불운이)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: The unlucky one, person of bad luck
- Description: Korean bul-un (bad luck) plus i (person/one) — meaning “the unlucky one” or “person of bad luck.”
Akryun (악류)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Of bad fortune, ill luck
- Description: A Korean name from ak (bad) rooted in the concept of ill fortune — used for those considered unlucky.
Bulhaengja (불행자)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Person of misfortune, unlucky person
- Description: Korean bulhaeng (misfortune) plus ja (person) — directly meaning “person of misfortune” or “unlucky person.”
Jaenani (재난이)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Person of calamity, one of bad luck
- Description: From Korean jaenan (calamity/misfortune) plus i (person) — meaning “one born into bad luck.”
Bul-un-seong (불운성)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Nature of bad luck, born to bad luck
- Description: Korean bul-un (bad luck) plus seong (nature/star) — meaning “born with the nature of bad luck.”
Akun-ja (악운자)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Person of bad luck
- Description: Korean akun (bad luck) plus ja (person) — directly meaning “person of bad luck” in Korean naming tradition.
Bulbokja (불복자)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Person without luck
- Description: Korean bulbok (without luck) plus ja (person) — meaning “a person without luck” in Korean tradition.
Bul-un-myeong (불운명)
- Origin: Korean
- Meaning: Fate of bad luck
- Description: Korean bul-un (bad luck) plus myeong (fate/destiny) — meaning “one whose fate is bad luck.”
French Names That Mean Bad Luck
Malheur
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The French word malheur means exactly “misfortune” or “bad luck” — the direct root from which the name Mallory descends.
Malchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck
- Description: The French word for bad luck — mal (bad) plus chance (luck) — used as a name in French literary and gothic traditions.
Malheureuse
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unlucky woman, unfortunate
- Description: The feminine French form directly meaning “unlucky” or “unfortunate woman” — a rare French name with an exact bad luck meaning.
Malheureux
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: The masculine French form meaning “unlucky” or “unfortunate” — directly rooted in malheur (bad luck).
Malechance
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill chance
- Description: An Old French variant of malchance meaning “ill chance” or “bad luck” — used in medieval French naming traditions.
Maudit
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Cursed, ill-fated
- Description: The French word maudit meaning “cursed” or “ill-fated” — used in French literary tradition for characters born to bad luck.
Malfortune
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad fortune, bad luck
- Description: A French compound of mal (bad) and fortune (fortune) — directly meaning “bad fortune” or “bad luck.”
Infortune
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The French word infortune means “misfortune” — used as a rare given name in French literary traditions.
Malesort
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Bad fate, bad luck
- Description: An Old French compound of male (bad) and sort (fate) — directly meaning “bad fate” or “bad luck” in Old French.
Malsort
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck, ill fate
- Description: A French name from mal (bad) and sort (fate/lot) — directly meaning “ill fate” or “bad luck.”
Malsorte
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Bad luck, unfortunate fate
- Description: A French variant meaning “bad luck” — mal (bad) plus sorte (fate/luck) — used in French dark naming.
Infortuné
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unfortunate, unlucky
- Description: The French word infortuné directly meaning “unfortunate” or “unlucky” — a name rooted in bad luck in French tradition.
Infortunée
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unfortunate woman, unlucky
- Description: The feminine French form of infortuné — directly meaning “unfortunate woman” or “unlucky woman.”
Déchance
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Decline of luck, bad luck
- Description: From French déchéance meaning “decline” or “fall of fortune” — used as a name for those born into bad luck.
Malaisé
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Ill at ease, unlucky
- Description: A French name from malaise meaning “ill ease” or “bad fortune” — rooted in the concept of bad luck in French.
Malfadé
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Ill-fated, of bad luck
- Description: An Old French name from malfadé meaning “ill-fated” or “one born to bad luck” — used in medieval French tradition.
Malaisée
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unlucky woman
- Description: The feminine form of malaisé — meaning “unlucky woman” or “woman of ill fortune” in French.
Maleureux
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: Unfortunate, unlucky
- Description: An Old French form meaning “unfortunate” or “unlucky” — directly tied to the bad luck root malheur.
Fâcheux
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: A French name meaning “unlucky” or “unfortunate” — rooted in the French concept of bad fortune.
Malaisement
- Origin: French
- Meaning: With bad luck, unfortunately
- Description: A French name meaning “with bad luck” — rooted in malaise (ill fortune) and used in French literary naming.
German Names That Mean Bad Luck
Unglück
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Bad luck, misfortune
- Description: The German word Unglück means exactly “bad luck” or “misfortune” — un (not/bad) plus Glück (luck) — the most direct German bad luck name.
Pech
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Bad luck, tough luck
- Description: The German word Pech means exactly “bad luck” in colloquial usage — a short, direct German name meaning bad luck.
Unglücklich
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Unlucky, unfortunate
- Description: From German unglücklich meaning “unlucky” — directly rooted in Unglück (bad luck).
Missgeschick
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: The German word Missgeschick means “misfortune” or “bad luck” — miss (bad) plus Geschick (fate/skill/luck).
Pechvogel
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Person of bad luck, unlucky person
- Description: Pech (bad luck) plus Vogel (bird/person) — a German compound meaning “one who always has bad luck” or “unlucky person.”
Unglücksbringer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Bringer of bad luck
- Description: Unglück (bad luck) plus Bringer (bringer) — directly meaning “one who brings bad luck” in German.
Pechkind
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Child of bad luck
- Description: Pech (bad luck) plus Kind (child) — directly meaning “child of bad luck” in German naming tradition.
Unglücksrabe
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Unlucky person, raven of bad luck
- Description: Unglück (bad luck) plus Rabe (raven) — a German compound meaning “one who carries bad luck.”
Missfortun
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck
- Description: A German adaptation of misfortune — miss (bad) plus Fortun (fortune) — directly meaning “bad fortune” or “bad luck.”
Unseligkeit
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Ill-fatedness, bad luck
- Description: From German unselig meaning “ill-fated” or “unlucky” — a German name rooted in bad luck and ill fate.
Pechhammer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Hammer of bad luck
- Description: Pech (bad luck) plus Hammer (hammer) — a German compound used as a name meaning “one struck by bad luck.”
Missgeschickter
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Unfortunate one, one of bad luck
- Description: From Missgeschick (misfortune) — directly meaning “the unfortunate one” or “one of bad luck” in German.
Unglücksmensch
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Person of bad luck, unlucky person
- Description: Unglück (bad luck) plus Mensch (person) — directly meaning “person of bad luck” in German.
Pechjäger
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Hunter of bad luck, one pursued by bad luck
- Description: Pech (bad luck) plus Jäger (hunter) — a German compound meaning “one always chased by bad luck.”
Unglückstern
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Star of bad luck, born under a bad star
- Description: Unglück (bad luck) plus Stern (star) — directly meaning “born under a star of bad luck” in German.
Missgunst
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Ill will, bad luck of others
- Description: From German Missgunst meaning “ill will” or “misfortune caused by others” — a German name tied to bad luck.
Unglücksfall
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Unlucky incident, stroke of bad luck
- Description: Unglück (bad luck) plus Fall (case/fall) — meaning “a stroke of bad luck” in German naming tradition.
Pechsträhne
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Streak of bad luck
- Description: Pech (bad luck) plus Strähne (streak) — directly meaning “a streak of bad luck” in German.
Unglückselig
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Ill-fated, of bad luck
- Description: From German unglückselig meaning “ill-fated” or “unfortunate” — a direct German bad luck name.
Unheil
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Misfortune, bad luck, calamity
- Description: The German word Unheil means “misfortune” or “bad luck” — un (not/bad) plus Heil (fortune/welfare) — a direct German bad luck name.




