Marlee Girl

Popularity: #465 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-lee //ˈmɑːrli//

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: from the meadow; Hebrew: bitter

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marlee is believed to have multiple linguistic roots, primarily deriving from the Old English name "Mearcwald," which means "boundary ruler." This name evolved over time, with variations appearing in different cultures. The name can also be linked to the Hebrew name "Miriam," which has been interpreted to mean "sea of bitterness" or "wished-for child." The transition into English likely occurred through the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where names were often adapted and modified to fit the phonetic and cultural contexts of the English language.

Historically, the name Marlee and its variants have been associated with various notable figures and events. While there are no specific saints or biblical figures directly linked to the name Marlee, its roots in names like Miriam connect it to significant religious narratives, particularly in Judeo-Christian traditions.

The name's presence in literature and historical texts can be traced back to the medieval period, where variations of the name appeared in various forms, reflecting the linguistic changes of the time. Culturally, names like Marlee have often been associated with strength and resilience, qualities that resonate through its etymological roots.

The name's connection to leadership and authority, as suggested by its Old English origins, has contributed to its enduring appeal. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Marley" have emerged, further enriching the name's cultural tapestry.

The name's historical significance and its associations with strength and leadership have allowed it to maintain a presence in various cultural contexts.

Famous people named Marlee

In this section, you will find notable people named Marlee. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Marlee who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Marlee who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Marlee Matlin is an actress best known for Children of a Lesser God, The West Wing, and Switched at Birth.

Marlee Scott is a country music singer best known for her singles and albums in the country genre.

Fictional characters named Marlee

The following list of fictional characters named Marlee 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.

Marlee is a fictional character from the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett. She is a young girl who forms a bond with the African American maids in her community, providing a unique perspective on the racial tensions of the time.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marlee, 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 Marlee. 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 Marlee was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Marlee has ranked as high as #718 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Marlee has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Marlee 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 Marlee 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 Marlee.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 577 13 564
2024 616 11 605
2023 619 11 608
2022 713 17 696
2021 700 16 684
2020 730 16 714
2019 715 18 697
2018 678 24 654
2017 668 20 648
2016 725 17 708
2015 717 21 696
2014 695 19 676
2013 651 0 651
2012 580 9 571
2011 556 7 549
2010 592 11 581
2009 809 17 792
2008 900 10 890
2007 371 7 364
2006 359 0 359
2005 332 0 332
2004 310 5 305
2003 283 0 283
2002 244 0 244
2001 230 0 230
2000 219 0 219
1999 220 0 220
1998 219 0 219
1997 174 0 174
1996 207 0 207
1995 183 0 183
1994 219 0 219
1993 303 0 303
1992 216 0 216
1991 169 0 169
1990 154 0 154
1989 120 0 120
1988 108 0 108
1987 95 0 95
1986 45 0 45
1985 39 0 39
1984 14 0 14
1983 12 0 12
1982 16 0 16
1981 13 0 13
1980 11 0 11
1979 13 0 13
1978 18 0 18
1977 14 0 14
1976 13 0 13
1975 19 0 19
1974 24 0 24
1973 28 0 28
1972 13 0 13
1971 16 0 16
1970 22 0 22
1969 16 0 16
1968 20 0 20
1967 19 0 19
1966 26 0 26
1965 12 0 12
1964 16 0 16
1963 14 0 14
1962 14 0 14
1961 14 0 14
1960 15 0 15
1959 23 0 23
1958 24 0 24
1957 17 0 17
1956 19 0 19
1955 13 0 13
1954 20 0 20
1953 14 0 14
1952 20 0 20
1951 21 0 21
1950 23 0 23
1949 13 0 13
1948 25 0 25
1947 17 0 17
1946 12 0 12
1945 20 0 20
1944 8 0 8
1943 19 0 19
1942 15 0 15
1941 16 0 16
1940 13 0 13
1939 19 0 19
1938 14 0 14
1937 14 0 14
1936 10 0 10
1934 9 0 9
1933 11 0 11
1932 6 0 6
1931 5 0 5
1930 6 0 6
1915 5 0 5

Top States for Marlee (2024)

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.

State Births Share
TX 42
7%
GA 32
6%
FL 29
5%
CA 29
5%
TN 29
5%
KY 26
5%
PA 23
4%
NC 23
4%
OH 22
4%
IN 22
4%
MN 17
3%
VA 16
3%
AL 16
3%
MO 16
3%
UT 15
3%
WA 15
3%
MI 15
3%
AZ 14
2%
NY 13
2%
LA 12
2%
WV 12
2%
KS 12
2%
WI 11
2%
MS 11
2%
MD 10
2%
IL 10
2%
AR 9
2%
SC 9
2%
CO 9
2%
CT 8
1%
NJ 8
1%
IA 7
1%
ID 7
1%
MA 6
1%
OK 6
1%
OR 6
1%