Marylu
A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 932 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Marylu tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 932 recorded births and a peak of 27 in 1953, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The open, approachable ending gives Marylu a flowing quality that carries well in both casual and formal settings.
In the most recent SSA release, Marylu ranks #16773 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Marylu is a girl's baby name of Hebrew and Germanic origin, a compound of Mary (meaning 'beloved') and Lu (a diminutive of Louise or Lucia, meaning 'famous warrior' or 'light'), creating a warmly mid-century American compound name with a Southern twang.
Double-barreled names like Marylu were beloved in mid-20th century America, particularly in the South, where they had a particular warmth and musical quality — the kind of name that sounds like it belongs in a summer evening on a porch, full of fireflies and sweetness.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Marylu is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1921–2024). Its Hebrew roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Marylu is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #16773), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Marylu was #10427 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #16773, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | #16813 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 66 | #12519 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 81 | #12353 | — |
| 1990s | 87 | #10439 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 72 | #9576 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 33 | #8452 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 80 | #5012 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 177 | #2810 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 134 | #2937 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 125 | #2531 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 67 | #3485 | — |
The Story of Marylu
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1953, Marylu is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Marylu are most likely born between 1943 and 1963.
How rare is Marylu?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Marylu — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1921, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 177 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Marylu by the numbers
- Would fill 19 school buses
- Meeting one Marylu per day would take 2.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(88 years, 1921–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #16773 |
| 2022 | 5 | #16852 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14949 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13331 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11289 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12482 |
| 2013 | 7 | #14126 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11908 |
| 2011 | 9 | #11832 |
| 2010 | 11 | #10234 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10417 |
| 2008 | 10 | #11314 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13469 |
| 2005 | 13 | #8676 |
| 2004 | 10 | #10427 |
| 2003 | 5 | #17416 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14769 |
| 2001 | 13 | #8033 |
| 2000 | 5 | #16659 |
| 1999 | 6 | #13800 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marylu a boy's or girl's name?
When was Marylu most popular?
How popular is the name Marylu?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1921–2024