Marva Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-vah //ˈmɑːrvə//
Origin: Hebrew; Latin
Meaning: Hebrew: 'to be sweet'; Latin: 'of the sea'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Marva has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word "mar" which means "bitter." This etymology is significant as it connects to the biblical narrative, where the name is associated with the biblical location of Marah, known for its bitter waters, as described in the Book of Exodus. The transition of the name into English likely occurred through various translations of the Bible and other religious texts, where Hebrew names were often adapted into Greek and Latin before being incorporated into English vernacular.
The name Marva may also be linked to the Aramaic word "mara," which carries a similar meaning of bitterness, further emphasizing its ancient origins. Historically, the name Marva has not been widely documented in significant historical texts or figures, but it is reflective of a broader tradition of names that convey emotional or experiential qualities.
The use of names that denote bitterness or sorrow can be traced back to various cultures, where they often symbolize resilience or the overcoming of adversity. While Marva itself may not have notable historical milestones, its linguistic roots tie it to a rich tapestry of biblical history and cultural narratives.
Culturally, names like Marva resonate with themes of struggle and endurance, often reflecting the human experience of facing challenges. The symbolic nature of the name can evoke a sense of strength in the face of hardship.
Additionally, diminutive forms or variations of the name, such as Marvie, may have emerged in different cultures, although they are less documented. Overall, Marva stands as a name that encapsulates deep historical and linguistic significance, rooted in ancient traditions and narratives.
Famous people named Marva
In this section, you will find notable people named Marva. 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 Marva who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Marva 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.
Marva Collins is an educator best known for founding the Westside Preparatory School and her work in educational reform.
Marva Hicks is an actress and singer best known for her roles in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the Broadway musical Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marva, 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 Marva. 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 Marva was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Marva has ranked as high as #755 nationally, which occurred in 1948, and has been most popular in Texas, Florida, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Marva has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Marva 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 Marva 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 Marva.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1993 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1992 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1991 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1990 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1989 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 1988 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1987 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1986 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1985 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1984 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1983 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1982 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1981 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1980 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1979 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1978 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1977 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1976 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1975 | 46 | 0 | 46 |
| 1974 | 65 | 0 | 65 |
| 1973 | 59 | 0 | 59 |
| 1972 | 69 | 0 | 69 |
| 1971 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1970 | 113 | 0 | 113 |
| 1969 | 115 | 0 | 115 |
| 1968 | 109 | 0 | 109 |
| 1967 | 105 | 0 | 105 |
| 1966 | 111 | 0 | 111 |
| 1965 | 125 | 0 | 125 |
| 1964 | 141 | 0 | 141 |
| 1963 | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| 1962 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 1961 | 150 | 0 | 150 |
| 1960 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 1959 | 212 | 0 | 212 |
| 1958 | 173 | 0 | 173 |
| 1957 | 214 | 0 | 214 |
| 1956 | 252 | 0 | 252 |
| 1955 | 261 | 0 | 261 |
| 1954 | 282 | 0 | 282 |
| 1953 | 296 | 0 | 296 |
| 1952 | 241 | 0 | 241 |
| 1951 | 330 | 0 | 330 |
| 1950 | 315 | 0 | 315 |
| 1949 | 318 | 0 | 318 |
| 1948 | 371 | 0 | 371 |
| 1947 | 328 | 0 | 328 |
| 1946 | 286 | 0 | 286 |
| 1945 | 263 | 0 | 263 |
| 1944 | 316 | 0 | 316 |
| 1943 | 322 | 0 | 322 |
| 1942 | 276 | 0 | 276 |
| 1941 | 338 | 0 | 338 |
| 1940 | 297 | 0 | 297 |
| 1939 | 319 | 0 | 319 |
| 1938 | 332 | 0 | 332 |
| 1937 | 342 | 0 | 342 |
| 1936 | 357 | 7 | 350 |
| 1935 | 187 | 0 | 187 |
| 1934 | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 1933 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| 1932 | 57 | 0 | 57 |
| 1931 | 57 | 0 | 57 |
| 1930 | 69 | 0 | 69 |
| 1929 | 56 | 0 | 56 |
| 1928 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| 1927 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1926 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 1925 | 44 | 0 | 44 |
| 1924 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1923 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1922 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1921 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1920 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1919 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1918 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1917 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1916 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1915 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1914 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1913 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Marva (1989)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |