Marla

Marla - A very unique female name

Marla appeared on the charts for the first time in 1932 on position #1435. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Marla and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Marla? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Marla. The baby girl name Marla was given to 56 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1891 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 23,276 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Marla peaked in popularity 71 years ago in 1955 on position 192.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Marla, 1-5?

Marla is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Marla is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #762 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #3,633.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Marla is where you live.

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Marla origin and meaning

German / English — short form of Marlene, exact formation disputed

Uncertain — usually explained as a shortened form of Marlene (itself from Maria Magdalena), but the step is not firmly documented

Marla is generally treated as a clipped form of Marlene, which traces back to Maria Magdalena, though the shortening itself is a 20th-century development rather than an old name. It peaked in the US in 1955 and has lately been climbing again from a low base.

Origin uncertain

Marla is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Marla, pop culture references for the name Marla and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Marla

We've found the following names that sound similar to Marla, sorted by popularity.

Muriel / Marley / Marlee / Merle / Marylou / Mariela / Mariel / Marlo / Marilee / Marlowe /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Marla

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Marla a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Marla?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

MAR-luh · /ˈmɑːrlə/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Marlo — Variant spelling also used as a separate name.

Famous bearers

• Marla Gibbs — Actress known as Florence on The Jeffersons (b. 1931) Contemporary
• Marla Maples — Actress and television personality (b. 1963) Contemporary

Style

ClassicShort form

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Marla for a compact vintage name with a little glamour — familiar, but rarely heard on a playground today.

Worth knowing

• It is often misheard as Marlo, Carla or Darla.