mal

Mal is primarily a given name and nickname, often used as a short form of Malcolm or Malachi, and occasionally as a stand-alone name. It is used in many English-speaking countries and can function as a masculine given name or, less commonly, as a nickname for others with similar roots.

Etymology and usage: The given name Malcolm derives from Scottish Gaelic Maol Coluim, meaning devotee of Columba. Malachi derives from Hebrew Malakhi, meaning “my messenger.” The short form Mal is widely used as an informal version of these names and can appear independently in various cultures.

In language and linguistics, mal- is a Latin-derived prefix meaning bad or ill, appearing in words such as malady, malnutrition, malice, and maladjusted. This prefix is etymologically separate from Mal as a personal name but can overlap in written form.

Notable people and characters: Mal Evans (1935–1976) was an English roadie and musician associated with the Beatles. In fiction, Mal is the nickname of Malcolm Reynolds, the captain of the spaceship Serenity in the television series Firefly and its film Serenity.

In popular culture and media, MAL is also an acronym for MyAnimeList, a widely used database and social community for anime and manga. The same acronym appears in various domains as a shorthand for different organizations, projects, or terms, depending on context.

See also: Mal (disambiguation) entries cover other uses of the term, including names, prefixes, and cultural references.