Marlon

Marlon - A very unique male name

Marlon appeared on the charts for the first time in 1926 on position #1634. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Marlon and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Marlon? 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 Marlon. The baby boy name Marlon was given to 136 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1138 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 10,782 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Marlon peaked in popularity 54 years ago in 1972 on position 218.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Marlon, 1-5?

Marlon is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Marlon is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #563 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #1,479.

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 Marlon is where you live.

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Marlon origin and meaning

Origin disputed

Uncertain — Marlon's origin is not established; suggestions include a development of Marlin or Marc with a suffix, and a link to the surname Marlon, none of them proven

Marlon is famous before it is old: Marlon Brando's stardom from the 1950s created the name's currency, and its US peak came in 1972, on his fame. Where Brando's parents found it is not documented, and tidy etymologies offered for Marlon are speculation. Use has been drifting down since the peak.

Origin uncertain

Marlon is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Marlon

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

Marlin / Merlin / Merlyn / Marlyn / Marland / Marilyn / Maryland / Marlan / Marlen / Marlene /

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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 Marlon

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 Marlon 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 male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Marlon?

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-lon · /ˈmɑrlən/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Marlin — The look-alike name from which Marlon is sometimes said to derive, a separate entry
• Marlan — Vowel respelling in the data

Famous bearers

• Marlon Brando — American actor, star of On the Waterfront and The Godfather, whose fame carried this name (1924–2004) Contemporary
• Marlon Wayans — American comedian and actor, of the Wayans family (b. 1972) Contemporary

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Marlon is chosen with Brando in mind, knowingly or not — a mid-century-cool name with one towering namesake.

Worth knowing

• Brando is the automatic association for film-literate adults