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Marlis

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Marlis

Pronounced MAR-liss /ˈmɑr.lɪs/Medium

Meaning: Marlis is a German contraction, in the same family as Marlies and Marlise, that fuses Maria (from Hebrew Miriam) with Elisabeth (Hebrew, 'God is my oath'). It packs two classic names into one brisk, two-syllable whole.Medium

In 30 seconds: Marlis is a German blend of Maria and Elisabeth, joining 'beloved' with 'God is my oath'. It reached the US as a rare mid-century import (said MAR-liss).

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Origin MediumGerman

MeaningMarlis is a German contraction, in the same family as Marlies and Marlise, that fuses Maria (from Hebrew Miriam) with Elisabeth (Hebrew, 'God is my oath'). It packs two classic names into one brisk, two-syllable whole.

U.S. rank (2001)#16977 ↘ Falling

2001 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1941

Total births (all-time)≈ 846

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

Marlis is a German double-name contraction of Maria and Elisabeth, a compact cousin of Marlies and Marlise. Both parent names are Biblical - Maria from Miriam, Elisabeth meaning 'God is my oath' - giving Marlis a devout, old-world grounding.

In American records Marlis stayed rare, peaking faintly around 1941 with only a few dozen girls a year and thinning out by the early 2000s. It arrived largely with German-speaking families and never crossed into the mainstream.

Did you know? Marlis belongs to a whole German tradition of splicing Maria onto a second name - Marlene (Maria + Magdalene), Marlise and Marlis (Maria + Elisabeth) - so the single name quietly honors two people at once.

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Marlis / Marlies — German contraction of Maria + Elisabeth

Variations

MarliesMarliseMarlissMarlys

Nicknames

MarliLis

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Marlis…

Marlys— a very close sister form of the same Maria-Elisabeth blend

Marlene— another Maria compound from the German tradition

Marlee— a lighter modern name sharing the Marl- opening

Elise— the Elisabeth half of Marlis as a standalone name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlis mean?

Marlis is a German blend of Maria and Elisabeth, joining 'beloved' with 'God is my oath'.

How do you pronounce Marlis?

It's said MAR-liss /ˈmɑr.lɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Marlis a boy or girl name?

Marlis is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Marlis?

Marlis has always been rare in the US, a mid-century German import that peaked faintly in the early forties.