A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Marilou since 1915
Babies named Marilou per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1948, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Marilou's real moment was 1933.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 64 |
| 1920s | 376 |
| 1930s | 618 |
| 1940s | 729 |
| 1950s | 697 |
| 1960s | 295 |
| 1970s | 143 |
| 1980s | 106 |
| 1990s | 81 |
| 2000s | 47 |
| 2010s | 43 |
| 2020s | 32 |
Meaning & origin
Marilou first appeared on U.S. Social Security records in 1915, a product of the early 20th century fashion for blending popular names. The name reached its peak popularity in 1933, during the decade of the 1930s, when it was most often chosen. After a long period of decline, Marilou has been experiencing a revival since 2015, with usage increasing again. Despite this resurgence, the name remains rare enough that it is not ranked among the top 1000 names, giving it a sense of uniqueness. Its origins as a compound name reflect the creative naming trends of its era.
Marilou is a modern compound name formed from Mary and Lou, itself a diminutive of Louise. Mary derives from the Hebrew Miryam, of debated meaning, while Louise is the feminine form of Louis, from the Germanic Chlodowig, meaning 'famous warrior.' The name emerged in the United States in the early 20th century as a fashionable blend.
“Marilou” around the world
Where Marilou lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
80
babies in 2024
Quebec
30
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mari, Lou, Lulu, Rilo
Sibling names for Marilou
Names that share Marilou's style, for a brother or sister.
