Rising since 1985, #536 for girls today.
Popularity of Marlee since 1915
Babies named Marlee per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 94 |
| 1940s | 158 |
| 1950s | 194 |
| 1960s | 166 |
| 1970s | 180 |
| 1980s | 473 |
| 1990s | 2,064 |
| 2000s | 4,018 |
| 2010s | 6,431 |
| 2020s | 3,871 |
Meaning & origin
Marlee first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1915, but remained rare for decades. Its trajectory turned sharply upward beginning around 1985, and it reached its peak rank in 2008. In 2025, the name ranked 536th nationally, with a frequency of 1 in 2,850 newborn girls. Marlee is especially favored in South Dakota, Idaho, and Mississippi, states that often embrace names with a modern, feminine sound. The name's soft -lee ending and resemblance to established names like Marley and Mary have contributed to its steady rise. While its etymology is uncertain, Marlee fits comfortably within the trend of creative respellings and compound-style names that have gained popularity in the United States over the past forty years.
Marlee likely emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century as a modern coinage, blending sounds from names like Mary and Marley with the popular -lee suffix. It has been used primarily in the United States, gaining steady popularity since the 1980s.
Where Marlee is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mar, Lee, Marls
Sibling names for Marlee
Names that share Marlee's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Marlee
Names whose popularity has moved with Marlee's over the last 50 years.
