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Home › Baby Names Directory › Marlys

Marlys

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-liss /ˈmɑːr.lɪs/Medium

Meaning: A twentieth-century blend name, joining Mar- (from Mary or Marlene) to an -lys ending (as in Gladys); it was especially popular among Scandinavian-American families in the Upper Midwest.Low

In 30 seconds: Marlys blends Mar- (Mary/Marlene) with an -lys ending, a Scandinavian-American favorite (said 'MAR-liss').
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Origin LowEnglish, Scandinavian
MeaningA twentieth-century blend name, joining Mar- (from Mary or Marlene) to an -lys ending (as in Gladys); it was especially popular among Scandinavian-American families in the Upper Midwest.
U.S. rank (2022)#16844 ↘ Falling
2022 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1937
Total births (all-time)≈ 8,958

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193719102022

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

Marlys is a blend name, joining Mar- (from Mary or Marlene) to an -lys ending like that of Gladys. Especially favored among Scandinavian-American families in the Upper Midwest, it crested around 1937 and then faded, now a vintage regional name.

Given to several hundred girls a year at its height, Marlys now reads as a retro 1930s name.

Did you know? Marlys peaked around 1937 and faded through mid-century, a name especially loved in the Scandinavian-American Midwest.
Overall data confidence 58%
References — Marlys — Blend of Mar- + -lys; Scandinavian-American use

Variations

MarlisMarlyssMarlise

Nicknames

MarMarly

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Marlys…

Gladys— a like -lys ending name
Marlene— a source of the Mar- element
Marva— a like Mar- name
Phyllis— a like early-century -is name

Explore names like Marlys

By themevintageblend1930s

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlys mean?

Marlys is a blend of Mar- (from Mary or Marlene) with an -lys ending; it was a Scandinavian-American favorite.

How do you pronounce Marlys?

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

Is Marlys a boy or girl name?

Marlys is used as a girl's name.

Is Marlys making a comeback?

Not notably — it's a nineteen-thirties favorite that has been uncommon since, a vintage regional blend-name.

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