Marilla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: muh-RIL-uh /məˈrɪlə/
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: 'little bitter'; English: 'shining sea'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Marilla has its roots in Latin, derived from the word "maris," meaning "of the sea." This etymology connects it to the broader tradition of names that evoke natural elements, particularly water. The name likely passed through various linguistic forms, including adaptations in Old French and Middle English, before becoming established in modern English.
The transition into English may have been influenced by the cultural exchanges during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many Latin-derived names into the English-speaking world. Historically, Marilla appears in literature and religious texts, though it is not as widely documented as some other names.
One notable instance is its use in 19th-century literature, particularly in works that reflect the Romantic ideals of nature and femininity. The name gained some recognition through its association with characters in novels, such as in L.M.
Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" series, where it is used for a character who embodies nurturing qualities. This literary connection helped to solidify its place in cultural memory, even if it did not achieve widespread use.
Culturally, Marilla is often associated with themes of the sea and femininity, symbolizing depth and nurturing qualities. The name's melodic quality and connection to nature have contributed to its enduring charm.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Rilla" have emerged, reflecting a common linguistic practice of creating affectionate or familiar versions of names. Overall, Marilla's etymological roots, historical references, and cultural associations contribute to its significance as a name that evokes both natural beauty and feminine strength.
Fictional characters named Marilla
The following list of fictional characters named Marilla is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Marilla Cuthbert is a fictional character from the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. She is the stern yet loving guardian of Anne Shirley, providing her with a home and guidance as she grows up.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marilla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marilla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Marilla was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Marilla has ranked as high as #8514 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Marilla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Marilla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Marilla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Marilla.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 13 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 27 | 27 |
| 2021 | 11 | 11 |
| 2020 | 15 | 15 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 17 | 17 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 |
| 2016 | 12 | 12 |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 |
| 2014 | 9 | 9 |
| 2013 | 14 | 14 |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 |
| 2009 | 9 | 9 |
| 2008 | 8 | 8 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 |
| 2005 | 8 | 8 |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 |
| 2000 | 7 | 7 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1996 | 6 | 6 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 |
| 1990 | 5 | 5 |
| 1989 | 7 | 7 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 |
| 1970 | 7 | 7 |
| 1963 | 6 | 6 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 |
| 1957 | 6 | 6 |
| 1954 | 7 | 7 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 |
| 1952 | 5 | 5 |
| 1951 | 8 | 8 |
| 1949 | 5 | 5 |
| 1947 | 5 | 5 |
| 1946 | 11 | 11 |
| 1945 | 5 | 5 |
| 1944 | 15 | 15 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 |
| 1942 | 11 | 11 |
| 1940 | 14 | 14 |
| 1939 | 9 | 9 |
| 1938 | 6 | 6 |
| 1937 | 8 | 8 |
| 1936 | 6 | 6 |
| 1935 | 10 | 10 |
| 1934 | 8 | 8 |
| 1933 | 9 | 9 |
| 1932 | 9 | 9 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 |
| 1930 | 9 | 9 |
| 1929 | 10 | 10 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 |
| 1927 | 14 | 14 |
| 1926 | 13 | 13 |
| 1925 | 9 | 9 |
| 1924 | 17 | 17 |
| 1923 | 9 | 9 |
| 1922 | 7 | 7 |
| 1921 | 9 | 9 |
| 1920 | 10 | 10 |
| 1919 | 7 | 7 |
| 1918 | 11 | 11 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 |
| 1916 | 10 | 10 |
| 1915 | 16 | 16 |
| 1914 | 13 | 13 |
| 1913 | 11 | 11 |
| 1912 | 9 | 9 |
| 1911 | 5 | 5 |
| 1910 | 7 | 7 |
| 1909 | 7 | 7 |
| 1908 | 7 | 7 |
| 1906 | 7 | 7 |
| 1903 | 6 | 6 |
| 1902 | 7 | 7 |
| 1901 | 8 | 8 |
| 1898 | 12 | 12 |
| 1897 | 13 | 13 |
| 1895 | 7 | 7 |
| 1894 | 8 | 8 |
| 1892 | 6 | 6 |
| 1891 | 5 | 5 |
| 1890 | 6 | 6 |
| 1889 | 6 | 6 |
| 1888 | 5 | 5 |
| 1884 | 6 | 6 |
| 1882 | 7 | 7 |
| 1880 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Marilla
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.