Holding steady.
Popularity of Marlise since 1944
Babies named Marlise per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1962, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Marlise's real moment was 1970.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 15 |
| 1950s | 49 |
| 1960s | 90 |
| 1970s | 71 |
| 1980s | 71 |
| 1990s | 29 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Marlise is a mid-20th century compound name that combines the classic names Mary and Louise. According to U.S. Social Security data, the name first appeared in 1944 and reached its peak popularity in 1970 with 26 recorded births. Since then, its usage has remained very low but stable; the trajectory is classified as stable with no sign of revival. In 2025, the name had only 5 births, resulting in a 1-in-N ratio too small to calculate. The name has never ranked in the top 1,000 and has no strong regional concentration, reflecting its rarity across the United States. Marlise fits a pattern of 1970s compound names, many of which have faded from common use.
Marlise is a modern blended name, combining Mary and Louise. Mary derives from the Hebrew name Miriam, with debated meanings including 'drop of the sea' (Latin stella maris), 'bitter,' or 'beloved.' Louise is the feminine form of Louis, from the Germanic name Chlodowig, meaning 'famous warrior.' The name Marlise emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, as part of a trend of compound names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Marli, Lisa, Marlie
Sibling names for Marlise
Names that share Marlise's style, for a brother or sister.
