Marlowe

MAHR-lo

Variation of Marlow, English

"driftwood"

Marlowe Origin and Meaning

The name Marlowe is a girl's name of English origin meaning "driftwood".

Is it Marlo, Marlow, or Marlowe? Suddenly they all seem very much in the air, in tune with rhyming cousins Harlow and Arlo. While we love the o-sound at the end and think that Marlo or Marlow or Marlowe, however it's spelling, has an attractively lush sound, we do find the trio a bit confusing. And each has a very different gender identity.

Marlowe is not only the most popular spelling but the one used most often for girls, with 90 percent of babies named Marlowe female. Marlow is 75 percent female, while Marlo is evenly divided.

Marlowe is, of course, a popular surname, going back to sixteen century poet and playwright Christopher and also exemplified by iconic Raymond Chandler private eye Philip.

The name first achieved prominence when Margaret Julia Thomas aka That Girl became known by her nickname Marlo. More recently, Jason Schwartzman used the e-ending version for his young daughter, Marlowe Rivers, as did Sienna Miller for her baby girl Marlowe Ottoline. 

Marlowe Rank in US Top 1000

# 624 in the US

Marlowe Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 198 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Marlowe

• 624 US 2024
• 198 Nameberry 2025
• 53 Unique 2019
• 158 Unisex 2023
• 547 Future 2028
• 641 England 2023

20 Names Similar to Marlowe

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

• Romy
• Marlow
• Rory
• Jovie
• Sloane
• Fallon
• Ellis
• Scout
• Bellamy
• Holland
• Hollis
• Waverly
• Jude
• Indie
• Lennon
• Greer
• Sutton
• Arlo
• Rowan
• Monroe

Famous People Named Marlowe

• Marlowe Peyton American actress
• Marlowe Rivers Schwartzman (b. 2010) daughter of actor Jason Schwartzman
• Marlowe Monroe Bratcher (b. 2014) daughter of actress Jenna von Oy and Brad Bratcher
• Marlowe Mae Martino (b. 2014) daughter of soccer player and actress Kyle and Eva Amurri Martino
• Marlowe Masterson Stowell (b. 2015) daughter of actress Alanna Masterson and photographer Brick Stowell

The name Marlowe in Pop Culture

• Marlowe Lassiter wife of main character Carlton Lassiter on TV's "Psych"
• Katherine Marlowe character in "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception"
• Lucien Marlowe genderqueer character in the webcomic "Riverside Extras" by Miri Chamberlain