Declining since 2021, #975 for girls today.
Popularity of Marleigh since 1985
Babies named Marleigh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 37 |
| 1990s | 264 |
| 2000s | 1,099 |
| 2010s | 2,651 |
| 2020s | 2,060 |
Meaning & origin
Marleigh is a modern feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1985. It gained traction in the 2000s and 2010s, reaching its peak popularity in 2021, when it ranked in the top 1,000. By 2025, it had fallen to rank 975, with approximately 1 in every 6,158 newborn girls receiving the name. The name is most common in Alabama, South Carolina, and Louisiana, reflecting a southern regional preference. Marleigh's trajectory has been falling since 2021, suggesting its peak may have passed. As a creative respelling of Marley, it participates in the broader trend of names with the -leigh ending, which also includes Ryleigh and Kinsley. Despite its recent vintage, Marleigh has carved out a small but consistent presence in American naming.
Marleigh is a modern invented name, likely a respelling of Marley (from Old English mearth 'weasel' or gemǣre 'boundary' + lēah 'wood' or 'clearing') or a feminized variant of Marley created by substituting the popular suffix -leigh. The name first appeared in U.S. records in the mid-1980s and has risen in use, particularly in the southern states. It follows the trend of creative -leigh endings seen in names like Ryleigh and Paisley.
Where Marleigh 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, Leigh
Sibling names for Marleigh
Names that share Marleigh's style, for a brother or sister.
