A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Marylu since 1921
Babies named Marylu per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1953, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Marylu's real moment was 1938.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 67 |
| 1930s | 125 |
| 1940s | 134 |
| 1950s | 177 |
| 1960s | 80 |
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 87 |
| 2000s | 81 |
| 2010s | 66 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Marylu is a compound feminine name blending Mary and Lu, a short form of Louise. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1921 and reached its peak year of use in 1938, when it was most often recorded. After decades of decline, the name has shown a small resurgence: its trajectory has been rising since 2022, though it still does not rank among the top 1,000 names and records 1-in-N births too rare to calculate. The name exemplifies the early 20th century trend of combining two popular names, especially common in the American South. Today, Marylu remains a rare and distinctive choice, with a sound that feels both vintage and accessible.
Marylu is a compound name formed from Mary and Lu, a clipped form of Louise. Mary is of Hebrew origin, derived from Miryam, with debated meanings including 'beloved' and 'sea of bitterness'. Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, from the Germanic name Chlodovech, meaning 'famous warrior'. This type of compound name was particularly fashionable in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, especially in the South.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mary, Lu, Mimi
Variants: Mary Lou, Mary-Lou
Sibling names for Marylu
Names that share Marylu's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Betty Jo, Patsy Ann, Sue Ellen, Bobbie Jean, Cathy Sue
Brothers: Billy Joe, Jimmy Ray, Johnny Lee, Tommy Lynn, Bobby Gene
