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Marlowe

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-loh /ˈmɑːrloʊ/High

Meaning: From the English surname Marlowe, derived from the Old English place-name Mǣrel-wōh or similar, meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'driftwood on a lake'; the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, England gives the name its geographic originMedium

In 30 seconds: Marlowe is a stylish Old English surname-name evoking the tranquil image of driftwood on a lake. Once exclusively masculine via playwright Christopher Marlowe, it has strongly shifted to girls' use.
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Origin MediumOld English
MeaningFrom the English surname Marlowe, derived from the Old English place-name Mǣrel-wōh or similar, meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'driftwood on a lake'; the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, England gives the name its geographic origin
U.S. rank (2025)#523 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births575 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,803

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519182025

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

History & Origin

Marlowe originates as an English surname from the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, derived from Old English elements meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'driftwood.' Its most famous historical bearer was playwright Christopher Marlowe, whose works (Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine) helped shape the Elizabethan stage before Shakespeare dominated it.

Marlowe has shifted dramatically from a surname and masculine literary name to a fashionable girls' name in the 21st century. Its appeal to parents lies in its literary gravitas, its soft ending, the nickname Marlo, and its positioning alongside similar names like Harlow, Monroe, and Bronte. It rose sharply in U.S. girls' charts from the 2010s onward.

Did you know? Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593), the brilliant Elizabethan playwright, was born the same year as Shakespeare and died under mysterious circumstances at age 29 — some scholars have long speculated he was involved in Elizabethan espionage.
Overall data confidence 80%
Behind the Name — Marlow — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MarlowMarlo

Nicknames

MarloMar

Famous Bearers

  • ★Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)
    English Elizabethan playwright and poet; author of Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine.

If you like Marlowe…

Harlow— Old English surname-name for girls in the same Hollywood-vintage category
Monroe— literary/celebrity surname-name with the same feminine revival energy
Bronte— literary surname-name with the same romantic, intellectual character
Hadley— two-syllable Old English surname-name in the same modern girls' trend

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlowe mean?

Marlowe is an Old English place-name meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'driftwood,' from the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, England.

How do you pronounce Marlowe?

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

Is Marlowe a boy or girl name?

Historically a boys' surname-name, Marlowe has shifted strongly toward girls' use in the 21st century.

How popular is Marlowe?

Marlowe has been rising rapidly for girls in the U.S. since the 2010s and ranks in the top 300–400 girls' names.