Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Marla

Marla

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-luh /ˈmɑːr.lə/High

Meaning: beloved, drop of the seaMedium

In 30 seconds: Marla is a warm short form of Marlene or a variant of Mary meaning of the sea or beloved. A vintage name with 1950s Hollywood glamour.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumHebrew, Germanic
Meaningbeloved, drop of the sea
U.S. rank (2025)#2055 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births92 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1955
Total births (all-time)≈ 38,782

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195519122025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Marla is a short form of Marlene (a blend of Mary and Magdalene) or a variant of Marley. Mary derives from Hebrew Miriam, possibly meaning beloved or drop of the sea.

Marla was popular in the US from the 1940s through the 1970s and retains a breezy, vintage quality.

Did you know? Fight Club (1996) by Chuck Palahniuk features a character named Marla Singer — making this name associated with both wholesome 1950s Americana and edgy 1990s cult fiction simultaneously.
Overall data confidence 78%
Hanks & Hodges, Dictionary of First Names — reference for MarlaBehind the Name: Marlene — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data

Variations

MarleneMaryMarlenaMarley

Nicknames

MarMarlie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Marla Maples (1963–present)
    American actress, model and television personality; second wife of Donald Trump from 1993 to 1999.

If you like Marla…

Marley— Old English surname name with similar Mar- sound
Carla— two-syllable name with similar vintage feel
Darla— vintage two-syllable -la name of same era
Baila— lands in the same popularity range
Sayla— shares Marla's Hebrew roots

Explore names like Marla

By themehebrewclassictwo-syllablevintagegermanic
By meaningLoveSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Marla mean?

Marla means of the sea or beloved, as a short form of Marlene (Mary + Magdalene) or variant of Mary from Hebrew Miriam.

How do you pronounce Marla?

Marla is pronounced MAR-luh (/ˈmɑːr.lə/), with two syllables.

Is Marla a girl's name?

Yes, Marla is used as a feminine name.

How popular is the name Marla?

Marla was popular in the 1940s–1970s in the US and retains a breezy vintage appeal.

💬 Ask Nia