Rising since 2010, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Marsden since 1914
Babies named Marsden per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 33 |
| 1920s | 46 |
| 1930s | 33 |
| 1940s | 34 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 69 |
| 2020s | 55 |
Meaning & origin
Marsden is a surname-turned-first-name that has been in use since 1914, when it first appeared on U.S. records. It reached its peak popularity in 2013, and from 2010 onward it has been on a steady upward trajectory. In recent years it remains quite rare, with an estimated 1 in 170,808 newborns receiving the name in 2025. While it has not cracked any top-state lists, its quiet rise fits the broader pattern of English surname names gaining favor among parents seeking something distinctive but familiar. Marsden offers a straightforward meaning rooted in English geography, and its sound fits well with other two-syllable surname-style choices.
Marsden is an English surname transferred to first name use, derived from a place name meaning 'marshy valley' (from Old English 'mersc' meaning 'marsh' and 'denu' meaning 'valley'). The place name is found in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and elsewhere in England. It has been in occasional use as a given name since the early 20th century, following the trend of surname-inspired first names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mars, Marty
Sibling names for Marsden
Names that share Marsden's style, for a brother or sister.
