Marian

French medieval variation of Marie, Hebrew

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"

Marian Origin and Meaning

The name Marian is a girl's name of French origin meaning "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved".

Marian's (and sister spelling Marion's) image has gone through a sea change of late, recalling less middle-aged matron and more Robin Hood's romantic Maid Marian. Some influences: the SJ Parker-M. Broderick twin daughter Marion and the glamorous French actress Marion Cotillard.

Marian was a Top 100 name from 1912 through 1934.

Marian Anderson was a great African-American contralto singer and Marion (born Marian) Ross was the mom on Happy Days. And – trivia tidbit – Marion Tweedy was the maiden name of Molly Bloom in James Joyce's Ulysses.

At one time Marian was considered the female form and Marion the male – John Wayne was born Marion.

The meaning of Marie is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marian Rank in US Top 1000

# 735 in the US

Marian Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 951 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Marian

• 951 Nameberry 2025
• 163 Unique 2023
• 275 Mexico 2021

20 Names Similar to Marian

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Marian.

• Marion
• Marta
• Annette
• Rosaline
• Gillian
• Gwendolen
• Therese
• Georgina
• Dinah
• Cecile
• Elinor
• Claudette
• Loretta
• Francine
• Helene
• Marianne
• Muireall
• Nadine
• Marlene
• Eleanore

Famous People Named Marian

• Marian Anderson American contralto opera singer
• Marian Ellina Stamp Dawkins English biologist; wife of humanist Richard Dawkins
• Marian Keyes Irish novelist
• Marian Rivera Spanish,Filipino actress and model
• Marian Lois Shields Robinson mother of U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama
• Marian Bergeron Miss America 1933
• Marian McKnight Miss America 1957
• Marian Ethel Mercer American actress and singer
• Marian Ann Borris Javits American art patron
• Marian Wright Edelman American rights activist
• Marian Elizabeth (Westropp Dawson) Pritchard, English fashion writer and journalist
• Marian "Marie" Billups Booth third daughter of Salvation Army founder William Booth

The name Marian in Pop Culture

• Maid Marian love interest of Robin Hood
• Marian Paroo aka Marian the Librarian a main character in "The Music Man"
• "The Genius of Marian " 2013 documentary on Alzheimer's disease
• "Marian " song by Sisters of Mercy

International Variations of the name Marian

• Marien Dutch
• Marianne French
• Mariana Spanish
• Maryam Greek
• Mariann French
• Marianna Spanish
• Mariane German