Maleficent

English word name

"causing harm"

Maleficent Origin and Meaning

The name Maleficent is a girl's name meaning "causing harm".

Disney turned Maleficent into a name in 1959, when it was used for the "Mistress of All Evil" in the film Sleeping Beauty. Prior to that, maleficent was a word meaning "causing harm," the antonym of beneficent. Its similarities to the familiar name Millicent made it an apt choice for the iconic Disney villain.

American parents first used Maleficent as a baby name in 2015, the year following the premiere of the Disney movie of the same name, starring Angelina Jolie.