Malignomen

Malignomen is a term used in folklore studies and speculative linguistics to describe a name or utterance believed to bring harm, misfortune, or malevolent influence when spoken or written. It denotes a category of names considered dangerous or cursed, distinct from ordinary proper names or neutral appellations.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Latin roots meaning “bad name.” While not a standard term in mainstream linguistics, malignomen appears in ethnographic discussions of naming practices and in modern fantasy literature as a coined concept. Its historical attestation is uneven, and it is typically used to frame discussions about ritual speech, taboo, and the social power attributed to names.

Cultural motifs: In traditions that emphasize the power of speech, a malignomen may be a so-called true name of a being or a word believed to unleash adverse effects. Some cultures maintain taboos around certain invocations, using avoidance, ritual substitution, or protective formulas to counter or dampen the name’s supposed force. The concept often intersects with ideas about the ontology of names, omen readings, and the social control of language.

Modern usage: In fantasy writing, games, and world-building, malignomen are common plot devices. They may be required to unlock magical objects, trigger protective wards, or provoke harm if uttered aloud. Scholars use related concepts such as name taboos, power of words, and namelore to analyze these motifs and their narrative functions.

See also: true name, name taboo, namelore, naming rituals.