Marian
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 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).
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.
Editor: Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,264 | 191 | 106.9 |
| 2015 | #1,100 | 236 | 132.2 |
| 2016 | #1,215 | 203 | 114.6 |
| 2017 | #1,248 | 190 | 110.1 |
| 2018 | #1,205 | 197 | 115.8 |
| 2019 | #1,237 | 190 | 113.2 |
| 2020 | #1,345 | 164 | 101.5 |
| 2021 | #1,309 | 173 | 105.4 |
| 2022 | #1,141 | 214 | 130.5 |
| 2023 | #1,156 | 210 | 130.9 |
| 2024 | #1,151 | 209 | 129 |
| 2025 | #1,103 | 217 | 135 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Marian.
- Marion
- Therese
- Annette
- Gillian
- Marianne
- Georgina
- Gwendolen
- Rosaline
- Elinor
- Helene
- Cecile
- Dinah
- Loretta
- Mathilda
- Clarice
- Nadine
- Marta
- Francine
- Rosanna
- Marlene
Marian on lists
Famous Marians
- 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
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
- "Robin Hood and Maid Marian"
A ballad in the 19th century collection "The Child Ballads"