Marlo Unisex

Popularity: #839 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-lo /ˈmɑːrloʊ/

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: 'from the hill'; Latin: 'male form of Marlon'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marlo is believed to have roots in both English and Scandinavian languages. It is often considered a variant of the name Marlow, which is derived from the Old English elements "mere," meaning "lake" or "pond," and "leah," meaning "clearing" or "meadow." This suggests a geographical origin, referring to a settlement by a lake.

The name Marlowe, a variant spelling, has also been used historically, notably associated with the English playwright Christopher Marlowe in the late 16th century, which contributed to the name's literary resonance. The transition of Marlo into English can be traced through the evolution of place names in England, particularly during the medieval period when surnames began to be adopted as given names.

The use of Marlo as a first name likely gained traction in the 20th century, influenced by the trend of using surnames as first names. While specific historical milestones for the name Marlo are less documented, its connection to the geographical and natural elements of the English landscape provides a rich backdrop.

Culturally, names like Marlo evoke a sense of nature and tranquility, resonating with themes of pastoral beauty and serenity. The name has been embraced in various forms, including diminutives like Marly, which may carry similar connotations.

The enduring appeal of names derived from natural features reflects a broader tradition in many cultures of naming children after elements of the landscape, symbolizing a connection to the earth and heritage.

Famous people named Marlo

In this section, you will find notable people named Marlo. 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 Marlo who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Marlo 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.

Marlo Thomas is an actress and producer best known for That Girl, Free to Be... You and Me, and her philanthropic work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Marlo Morgan is an author best known for her book Mutant Message Down Under.

Fictional characters named Marlo

The following list of fictional characters named Marlo 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.

Marlo is a fictional character from the TV series The Wire. He is a powerful drug lord who plays a central role in the show's exploration of the drug trade in Baltimore.

Marlo is a fictional character from the video game series Grand Theft Auto. He is a prominent character in the storyline of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, known for his involvement in gang activities.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marlo, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MilaMaraMiraMinaMabelMaya

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marlo. 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.

MarlonMaraMinaMiraMabelMarisMarnieMarlowe

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Marlo was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Marlo has ranked as high as #680 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Marlo has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Marlo 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 Marlo 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 Marlo.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 204 95 109
2024 219 100 119
2023 206 106 100
2022 198 76 122
2021 185 83 102
2020 164 80 84
2019 193 77 116
2018 164 65 99
2017 124 49 75
2016 164 72 92
2015 124 47 77
2014 144 56 88
2013 139 47 92
2012 143 40 103
2011 120 41 79
2010 128 44 84
2009 103 32 71
2008 114 37 77
2007 75 33 42
2006 99 40 59
2005 67 25 42
2004 59 24 35
2003 73 37 36
2002 60 28 32
2001 60 29 31
2000 68 32 36
1999 61 32 29
1998 71 30 41
1997 63 23 40
1996 69 32 37
1995 66 36 30
1994 49 29 20
1993 48 25 23
1992 70 24 46
1991 63 31 32
1990 60 29 31
1989 61 32 29
1988 89 51 38
1987 73 36 37
1986 59 24 35
1985 82 26 56
1984 85 37 48
1983 105 49 56
1982 111 37 74
1981 112 50 62
1980 150 55 95
1979 162 68 94
1978 168 67 101
1977 202 65 137
1976 250 82 168
1975 243 52 191
1974 276 69 207
1973 329 78 251
1972 407 84 323
1971 529 48 481
1970 635 42 593
1969 534 36 498
1968 573 28 545
1967 381 28 353
1966 128 27 101
1965 41 25 16
1964 42 20 22
1963 36 20 16
1962 52 22 30
1961 40 26 14
1960 35 27 8
1959 32 24 8
1958 33 27 6
1957 33 20 13
1956 39 25 14
1955 38 29 9
1954 51 31 20
1953 31 22 9
1952 47 33 14
1951 40 26 14
1950 22 16 6
1949 25 13 12
1948 32 15 17
1947 25 12 13
1946 23 9 14
1945 19 11 8
1944 19 11 8
1943 30 16 14
1942 25 14 11
1941 24 16 8
1940 13 13 0
1939 21 15 6
1938 26 18 8
1937 19 19 0
1936 17 17 0
1935 35 28 7
1934 26 19 7
1933 17 17 0
1932 15 15 0
1931 20 12 8
1930 13 13 0
1929 17 17 0
1928 14 14 0
1927 10 10 0
1926 11 11 0
1925 10 10 0
1924 13 13 0
1923 10 10 0
1922 8 8 0
1920 9 9 0
1919 10 10 0
1917 8 8 0
1915 7 7 0

Top States for Marlo (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
CA 30
30%
TX 17
17%
GA 9
9%
MI 6
6%
OH 6
6%
WI 6
6%
TN 5
5%
WA 5
5%
IL 5
5%
MO 5
5%
PA 5
5%