Marylou
A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 13,084 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name.
Marylou is a girl's baby name of Hebrew and Germanic origin, a compound of Mary (from the Hebrew Miryam, meaning 'beloved') and Lou (from the Old High German Hluodowig, meaning 'famous warrior'), together creating a name that carries 'beloved warrior' or 'famous and beloved.'
With over 13,000 recorded births, Marylou is a classic double-name in the great Southern American tradition — the kind of name that sounds like it belongs on a front porch with sweet tea. It was particularly popular in the mid-20th century, and it shares the warmth and accessibility of Mary combined with the punchy, friendly Lou. For parents who love double names, Marylou is one of the most naturally flowing combinations.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Marylou is rooted in the Hebrew tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1898 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
With 13,084 recorded U.S. births, Marylou has clearly resonated across communities. Names that reach this level of adoption typically carry a sound that works in multiple accents and cultural contexts — a kind of phonetic universality.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Marylou climbed 928 spots in the last 20 years — from #5895 to #4967.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 120 | #5394 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 228 | #6251 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 209 | #6193 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 356 | #3350 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 517 | #2180 | — |
| 1970s | 536 | #1865 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,598 | #901 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 2,128 | #637 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 3,141 | #420 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 2,621 | #408 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 1,251 | #719 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 313 | #1273 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 54 | #1780 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 12 | #1608 | — |
The Story of Marylou
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1942, Marylou is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Marylou are most likely born between 1932 and 1952.
How rare is Marylou?
Only about 1 in every 133,333 babies born in 2024 was named Marylou — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1898, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 3,141 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Marylou by the numbers
- Would fill 273 school buses
- Meeting one Marylou per day would take 35.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(125 years, 1898–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27 | #4967 |
| 2023 | 25 | #5204 |
| 2022 | 26 | #5118 |
| 2021 | 20 | #6087 |
| 2020 | 22 | #5594 |
| 2019 | 23 | #5555 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9589 |
| 2017 | 34 | #4280 |
| 2016 | 21 | #6113 |
| 2015 | 25 | #5405 |
| 2014 | 24 | #5569 |
| 2013 | 34 | #4306 |
| 2012 | 12 | #9514 |
| 2011 | 22 | #6071 |
| 2010 | 22 | #6107 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7945 |
| 2008 | 22 | #6285 |
| 2007 | 25 | #5635 |
| 2006 | 21 | #6276 |
| 2005 | 16 | #7375 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marylou a boy's or girl's name?
When was Marylou most popular?
How popular is the name Marylou?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1898–2024