English Noun bad name (plural bad names) Lack of reverence or esteem; poor reputation. 1847 March 30, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas; […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:The people of the southeasterly clusters—concerning whom, however, but little is known—have a bad name as cannibals; and for that reason their hospitality is seldom taxed by the mariner. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bad, name. Angina is a bad name to give to your child. Related terms to give a bad name Anagrams beadmanWikiwand - on Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.