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Marlee

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-lee /ˈmɑːr.liː/High

Meaning: Feminine form of Marley, from the English surname Marley (from Old English mearc-leah meaning 'boundary meadow' or 'pleasant wood'), with additional associations to Mary (Hebrew Miriam, 'beloved' or 'sea of bitterness') via the Mar- elementHigh

In 30 seconds: Marlee is a cheerful feminine spelling of Marley, evoking an English meadow and the sunny spirit of Bob Marley's legacy. Two syllables, easy to love, and climbing steadily.
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Origin HighEnglish, Hebrew
MeaningFeminine form of Marley, from the English surname Marley (from Old English mearc-leah meaning 'boundary meadow' or 'pleasant wood'), with additional associations to Mary (Hebrew Miriam, 'beloved' or 'sea of bitterness') via the Mar- element
U.S. rank (2025)#536 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births564 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 17,646

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200819152025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Marlee is a feminine respelling of Marley, an English surname derived from Old English mearc ('boundary, mark') and leah ('clearing, meadow'). The name-family sits comfortably in the English nature-surname tradition. The spelling Marlee, with the feminine double-e ending, distinguishes it as a girls' name, while Marley tends to be more unisex.

Marlee and Marley rose together in American given-name use through the 2000s and 2010s, partly through the popularity of actress Marlee Matlin and the cultural resonance of musician Bob Marley. The name-family now ranks in the top 200 for girls in the United States. Marlee is especially popular among parents who love the Harley and Charlee spelling pattern.

Did you know? Actress Marlee Matlin won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1987 for Children of a Lesser God at age 21 — making her the youngest Best Actress winner and the only deaf performer to have won an Oscar in a leading role.
Overall data confidence 86%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MarleyMarleighMarli

Nicknames

MarLee

Famous Bearers

  • ★Marlee Matlin (1965–present)
    American actress and the youngest winner of the Best Actress Oscar (1987), the first deaf performer to win an acting Academy Award.

If you like Marlee…

Charlee— shares the feminine -ee ending, the meadow/landscape surname feel, and the same two-syllable energy
Harley— Old English -ley surname name in the same gentle, outdoorsy girls' name bracket
Hadley— two-syllable English surname-name with the same meadow heritage and feminine ease
Oaklee— another feminine -ee respelling of an Old English -ley place name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlee mean?

Marlee is a feminine form of Marley, an Old English surname meaning 'boundary meadow' from mearc (boundary) and leah (clearing, meadow).

How do you pronounce Marlee?

It is said MAR-lee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Marlee a boy or girl name?

Marlee is used primarily as a girls' name. The Marley spelling is more unisex.

How popular is Marlee?

Marlee ranks in the top 200 for girls in the United States and is rising steadily as part of the feminine -ee surname-name trend.