Marla
Marla was the 2055th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 1955, when it ranked 193rd with 1,725 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 620 places. More babies were named Marla in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Marlene · American English, German
Say it MAR-luh /ˈmɑrlə/
- Rank in 2025
- #2,055 girls, up 485 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 92girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19551,725 babies
- Total since 1880
- 38,819babies recorded
What does the name Marla mean?
Marla was formed in America by shortening Marlene; Wiktionary dates its first use to the 1930s. Marlene is German, a blend of Maria and Lene (from Magdalene), made famous by the actress Marlene Dietrich. So Marla ultimately goes back to Mary and Magdalene. It was most popular in the US in the 1950s.
Marlene (German, “Maria + Magdalene”)
How sure is this? Probable. Marla is a modern formation; Mary itself is of uncertain meaning.
Related names: Marlene, Marlena, Mary, Magdalene.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marla', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marlene', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Marla (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Marla popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 38 since 1955.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,055 | 92 |
| 2020 | #2,540 | 68 |
| 2010 | #2,271 | 85 |
| 2000 | #1,567 | 114 |
| 1990 | #806 | 250 |
| 1980 | #496 | 417 |
| 1970 | #273 | 1,090 |
| 1960 | #272 | 1,087 |
| 1950 | #299 | 681 |
| 1940 | #577 | 147 |
| 1930 | #2,796 | 11 |
| 1920 | #5,480 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Marla, counting every spelling?
Marla has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Marla?
92 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marla (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Marla born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 91 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marla.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marla?
About 32,800 people born in the US named Marla are alive today, with a median age of 61; half are between 51 and 69. That makes Marla a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Marla by state
How common Marla was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Michigan (2.1×). In 38 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Marla: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marla, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Marla · Sibling names for Marla
Questions about the name Marla
What does Marla mean?
Marla means “from Marlene” (American English, German origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Marla?
Marla was the 2055th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 92 babies. Its best year was 1955, when it ranked 193rd with 1,725 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 620 places. More babies were named Marla in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Marla a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Marla in the US.
Where is Marla most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marla was most common in Michigan (0.11 per 1,000 girls), followed by Wisconsin and Ohio.