Marian
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Marian
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 for girls#1103 US
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 for boys
An attractive and little-known member of the group of romantic, Euro-chic boys' names ending in -ian: think Julian, Fabian, Florian, Adrian.
The visually identical but etymologically unrelated female name Marian (and its variant Marion, both ultimately derived from Maria) were moderately popular in the first half of the 20th century, but Marian dropped out of the Top 1000 for girls in 1992 and hasn't returned.
Pronounced MAIR-ee-un.
As of October 2026, Marian ranked #1103 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #64 in 1924, Nameberry popularity #910.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,264 | 191 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,100 | 236 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #1,215 | 203 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #1,248 | 190 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #1,205 | 197 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,237 | 190 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,345 | 164 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,309 | 173 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,141 | 214 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,156 | 210 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,151 | 209 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,103 | 217 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Marian for girls
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Marian on lists
Famous Marians
- Marian AndersonGirl
American contralto opera singer
- Marian Ellina Stamp DawkinsGirl
English biologist; wife of humanist Richard Dawkins
- Marian KeyesGirl
Irish novelist
- Marian RiveraGirl
Spanish,Filipino actress and model
- Marian Lois Shields RobinsonGirl
mother of U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama
- Marian BergeronGirl
Miss America 1933
- Marian McKnightGirl
Miss America 1957
- Marian Ethel MercerGirl
American actress and singer
- Marian Ann Borris JavitsGirl
American art patron
- Marian Wright EdelmanGirl
American rights activist
- Marian Elizabeth (WestroppGirl
Dawson) Pritchard, English fashion writer and journalist
- Marian "Marie" Billups BoothGirl
third daughter of Salvation Army founder William Booth
- Marian HossaBoy
professional hockey player
- Marian GoldBoy
lead singer for the band Alphaville
Marian in pop culture
- Maid MarianGirl
love interest of Robin Hood
- Marian Paroo aka Marian the LibrarianGirl
a main character in "The Music Man"
- "The Genius of MarianGirl
" 2013 documentary on Alzheimer's disease
- "MarianGirl
" song by Sisters of Mercy
- "Robin Hood and Maid Marian"Girl
A ballad in the 19th century collection "The Child Ballads"
- Marian FreemanBoy
from the Australian TV series "Snobs"