Marli

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-lee /ˈmær.li/Medium

Meaning: Sea of bitternessMedium

In 30 seconds: Marli is a Portuguese girl's name meaning 'sea of bitterness'. It carries the spare, two-syllable feel of a modern short form.

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Origin MediumPortuguese

MeaningSea of bitterness

U.S. rank (2025)#2317 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births79 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,841

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Marli is used in Portuguese with the meaning 'sea of bitterness', an image that ties it to the long tradition of names linked to the sea and to Mary. The trim spelling gives it a light, contemporary sound while keeping that older weight of meaning. Scottish actress Marli Siu, of Anna and the Apocalypse, is among those who bear it.

Marli reads softly and ends on the bright 'ee' sound that suits nicknames, even though it already feels like one. Marli Renfro, the American model who body-doubled in the Psycho shower scene, gives the name a second, very different point of recognition.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Marli is 'sea of bitterness', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Marli — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Marli Siu (1993–present)
Scottish actress known for Anna and the Apocalypse, Our Ladies and the series Alex Rider.
★Marli Renfro (1938–present)
American former model and Playboy cover girl who was the body double for Janet Leigh in the shower scene of Psycho (1960).

If you like Marli…

Marla— Shares Marli's 'Mar-' opening and trim, two-syllable build.

Maria— Connects through the 'sea of bitterness' meaning long tied to Mary.

Marlene— Begins with the same 'Mar-' sound and Mary-linked roots.

Marina— Echoes Marli's sea-tied meaning and 'Mar-' opening.

Explore names like Marli

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marli mean?

Marli is usually explained as meaning 'sea of bitterness' and is most often linked with Portuguese tradition.

How do you pronounce Marli?

It's commonly said MAR-lee /ˈmær.li/.

Is Marli a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Marli is used as a girl name.

How popular is Marli?

In 2024, Marli ranked #2059 in the U.S. for girls, with 94 births recorded.