Marlo
Primarily a girl's name of Old English origin with 7,155 recorded births. Also given to 3,583 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name.
Marlo is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a variant of Marlow, from an English place name meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'drained lake,' from Old English mere (lake) and laf (remnant). It can also be seen as a short form of Marlowe, the surname of Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe.
Marlo has a sleek, literary quality — short but sophisticated. Actor Marlo Thomas gave the name feminine associations in the 1960s-70s. Over 3,580 U.S. births are recorded across genders.
EtymologyShow more
Marlo is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Old English naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Marlo creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Marlo climbed 2355 spots in the last 20 years — from #4062 to #1707.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 527 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 905 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 461 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 329 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 530 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 2,546 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 1,603 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 113 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 105 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 36 | — |
The Story of Marlo
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Marlo is a Gen X staple. Girls named Marlo are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Marlo?
Only about 1 in every 30,252 babies born in 2024 was named Marlo — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1931, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1970s with 2,546 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Marlo by the numbers
- Would fill 149 school buses
- Meeting one Marlo per day would take 19.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(89 years, 1931–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 119 | #1707 |
| 2023 | 100 | #1977 |
| 2022 | 122 | #1716 |
| 2021 | 102 | #1937 |
| 2020 | 84 | #2165 |
| 2019 | 116 | #1766 |
| 2018 | 99 | #1993 |
| 2017 | 75 | #2417 |
| 2016 | 92 | #2122 |
| 2015 | 77 | #2396 |
| 2014 | 88 | #2167 |
| 2013 | 92 | #2089 |
| 2012 | 103 | #1926 |
| 2011 | 79 | #2361 |
| 2010 | 84 | #2286 |
| 2009 | 71 | #2611 |
| 2008 | 77 | #2475 |
| 2007 | 42 | #3835 |
| 2006 | 59 | #2931 |
| 2005 | 42 | #3562 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Marlo as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Marlo has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 3,583 births since 1915.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marlo a boy's or girl's name?
When was Marlo most popular?
How popular is the name Marlo?
Can Marlo be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1931–2024