Declining since 2021, #4,172 for girls today.
Popularity of Marlei since 2002
Babies named Marlei per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 69 |
| 2010s | 416 |
| 2020s | 299 |
Meaning & origin
Marlei is a modern respelling of Marley that first appeared on U.S. naming records in 2002. The name saw a peak in popularity in 2020, only to begin declining in use since 2021, making it a relatively recent and fleeting choice. With a rank of 4172 in 2025, it remains rare: about 1 in every 47,273 newborns received the name that year. Its usage is geographically concentrated; according to Social Security data, Louisiana claims the highest relative frequency of Marlei births. The respelling with an 'ei' ending aligns Marlei with other contemporary fanciful variants like Kaylei and Haylei, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive twist on the familiar Marley.
Marlei is a modern variant of Marley, ultimately from Old English words meaning 'pleasant' (from 'mǣre') and 'wood' or 'clearing' (from 'lēah'). The name Marley has been used as a surname and occasionally as a given name since the 19th century, but Marlei is a recent respelling that emerged in the early 2000s, likely influenced by the popular -lei suffix (as in Kaylei, Haylei).
Where Marlei is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mar, Lei
Sibling names for Marlei
Names that share Marlei's style, for a brother or sister.
