Holding steady.
Popularity of Maralee since 1917
Babies named Maralee per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 38 |
| 1920s | 83 |
| 1930s | 112 |
| 1940s | 169 |
| 1950s | 190 |
| 1960s | 127 |
| 1970s | 87 |
| 1980s | 43 |
| 1990s | 21 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 12 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Meaning & origin
Maralee is a mid-20th-century American invention, built from the familiar elements Mary and Lee. First recorded in 1917, it reached its highest usage in 1943, the peak year according to Social Security data. Despite its decline, Maralee exemplifies the trend of combining classic names with fashionable suffixes, a pattern common in the 1940s. The name's trajectory has remained stable in recent decades, with no significant revival. Its top states are not recorded due to low numbers, but the name's origin and pronunciation remain clear as a modern English compound.
Maralee is a modern coinage combining the popular name Mary with the suffix -lee, derived from Old English leah 'clearing, meadow'. It first appeared in the United States in the early 20th century, peaking in popularity in the 1940s. Its use has since declined, but it remains a distinctive example of mid-century American name invention.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mara, Lee, Mari
Variants: Marilee, Marelee, Mari Lee
Sibling names for Maralee
Names that share Maralee's style, for a brother or sister.
