Marlon
Marlon was the 1105th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 195 babies. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 217th with 1,028 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 286 places. More babies were named Marlon in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin not documented
Say it MAR-lun /ˈmɑrlən/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,105 boys, down 121 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 195boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19721,028 babies
- Total since 1880
- 31,292babies recorded
What does the name Marlon mean?
Marlon's origin is not known. Wikipedia, citing the Oxford Dictionary of First Names, says the name became widely known through the actor Marlon Brando (whose father was also named Marlon) and that its origin is unknown; a link with French Marc is only speculation. Marlon was most popular in the US in the 1970s and again around 2000, and is also common in Latin America and the Caribbean.
How sure is this? Not documented. No documented origin; the French "Marc" idea is speculation.
Related names: Marlin, Marlen.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marlon', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Marlon', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Marlon popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 336 since 1923.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,105 | 195 |
| 2020 | #984 | 217 |
| 2010 | #607 | 411 |
| 2000 | #507 | 452 |
| 1990 | #457 | 469 |
| 1980 | #344 | 538 |
| 1970 | #378 | 458 |
| 1960 | #462 | 296 |
| 1950 | #968 | 52 |
| 1940 | #1,606 | 19 |
| 1930 | #1,587 | 22 |
| 1920 | #1,626 | 23 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Marlon, counting every spelling?
Marlon is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #819 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,105 for Marlon on its own. Together these spellings went to 290 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon | 195 | #1,105 | 1,075 |
| Marlin | 90 | #1,788 | 409 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Marlon?
195 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marlon (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Marlon 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 43 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marlon.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marlon?
About 27,800 people born in the US named Marlon are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 22 and 52. That makes Marlon mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
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.
Marlon by state
How common Marlon was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Louisiana (2.3×), New Jersey (1.9×), Florida (1.7×), Virginia (1.7×). In 27 states fewer than five boys 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 Marlon: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marlon, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Marlon · Sibling names for Marlon
Questions about the name Marlon
How popular is the name Marlon?
Marlon was the 1105th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 195 babies. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 217th with 1,028 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 286 places. More babies were named Marlon in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Marlon a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Marlon in the US.
Where is Marlon most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marlon was most common in Louisiana (0.28 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Jersey and Florida.