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Marlow

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAR-low /ˈmær.laʊ/Medium

Meaning: remnants of a lake / drained lake landLow

In 30 seconds: Marlow is an English boy's name meaning 'remnants of a lake' or 'drained lake land'.
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Origin MediumEnglish
Meaningremnants of a lake / drained lake land
U.S. rank (2024)#2490 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births55 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,133

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319102024

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

History & Origin

Marlow is an English place and surname name meaning 'remnants of a lake' or land left by a drained lake. Its origin in the landscape gives it a calm, scenic quality, with Marlowe and Marlo as its close variants.

The soft -low ending makes the name feel gentle and unhurried, fitting its watery meaning. The Marlowe spelling carries a literary echo that adds a touch of weight.

Did you know? Marlow comes from the Buckinghamshire place name, from Old English mere ('lake') and laf ('remnants'), giving it that borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Marlow — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Marlow — meaning/etymology

Variations

MarloweMarlo

Nicknames

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If you like Marlow…

Marlowe— A listed variation of Marlow with the same meaning and a literary spelling.
Harlow— An English place-name with the same -low ending as Marlow.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlow mean?

Marlow means 'remnants of a lake' or drained lake land. It is an English place name from Old English mere ('lake') and laf ('remnants').

How do you pronounce Marlow?

It's commonly said MAR-low /ˈmær.laʊ/.

Is Marlow a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Marlow?

In 2024, Marlow ranked #2490 in the U.S. for boys, with 55 births recorded.