What does Marion mean?

Latin: 'of the sea'; French: 'bitter'

Is Marion a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Marion is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Marion?

It’s currently ranked #843 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Marion?

MAH-ree-on · IPA: //ˈmɛəriən//

Marion Unisex

Popularity: #863 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationMAH-ree-uhn / ˈmæɹiən

Latin; French

Meaning

Latin: 'of Mars'; French: 'sea' or 'bitter'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marion has roots in Latin, derived from 'Marius', which is associated with the Roman god of war, Mars. It became popular in France as a diminutive of Marie, which is the French form of Mary. Over time, Marion has been used for both boys and girls, though it is more commonly associated with females in modern contexts. The name has historical significance in various cultures, often linked to nobility and literature.

Trend Summary

Marion has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable decline in use for boys since the mid-20th century.

Variants

Marian
Marius

International Variants

Mariano (Spanish)
Marin (Slavic)
Marius (Latin)

Famous people named Marion

Marion Barry was an American politician and civil rights leader known for serving as the mayor of Washington, D.C.

Marion C. Wolf is an American author and educator recognized for her contributions to children's literature.

Marion Cotillard is a French actress acclaimed for her performances in films such as 'La Vie en Rose'.

Marion Jones is a former American track and field athlete who won multiple Olympic medals.

Fictional characters named Marion

Marion Ravenwood is a character in the 'Indiana Jones' franchise, known as the adventurous love interest of Indiana Jones.

Marion Crane is a character in Alfred Hitchcock's film 'Psycho', recognized for her pivotal role in the plot.

Sibling Suggestions

Martin Mason Malcolm Marcus Matthew Maxwell

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Marion was first seen in the United States in 1880. Marion has ranked as high as #245 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Marion has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Marion (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
GA	7	41%
FL	5	29%
TX	5	29%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	189
1881	162
1882	157
1883	163
1884	184
1885	141
1886	182
1887	131
1888	162
1889	153
1890	137
1891	121
1892	166
1893	139
1894	154
1895	148
1896	172
1897	153
1898	166
1899	152
1900	189
1901	159
1902	176
1903	188
1904	198
1905	170
1906	181
1907	226
1908	233
1909	247
1910	286
1911	346
1912	680
1913	771
1914	982
1915	1,295
1916	1,357
1917	1,416
1918	1,535
1919	1,488
1920	1,604
1921	1,716
1922	1,631
1923	1,670
1924	1,613
1925	1,617
1926	1,626
1927	1,592
1928	1,515
1929	1,451
1930	1,389
1931	1,311
1932	1,316
1933	1,195
1934	1,130
1935	1,181
1936	1,049
1937	1,116
1938	1,139
1939	1,033
1940	1,049
1941	1,025
1942	1,052
1943	1,066
1944	955
1945	841
1946	945
1947	962
1948	934
1949	839
1950	820
1951	855
1952	782
1953	777
1954	833
1955	712
1956	745
1957	610
1958	582
1959	545
1960	541
1961	565
1962	490
1963	458
1964	456
1965	430
1966	352
1967	343
1968	367
1969	341
1970	304
1971	344
1972	300
1973	298
1974	266
1975	245
1976	242
1977	227
1978	206
1979	232
1980	204
1981	187
1982	183
1983	136
1984	169
1985	155
1986	164
1987	137
1988	168
1989	149
1990	136
1991	145
1992	130
1993	101
1994	86
1995	90
1996	117
1997	131
1998	135
1999	109
2000	103
2001	106
2002	120
2003	158
2004	138
2005	167
2006	156
2007	146
2008	140
2009	119
2010	124
2011	102
2012	110
2013	97
2014	82
2015	77
2016	77
2017	77
2018	76
2019	70
2020	57
2021	40
2022	61
2023	59
2024	61