Fun Facts About the Name Marlan
- More than 1 thousand babies named Marlan: U.S. records list 1,236 babies given the name Marlan from 1880 through 2025. Even 14 girls received the name Marlan - about 1 girl for every 87 boys.
What Does the Name Marlan Mean?
Marlan is a rare given name with no settled etymology. It is most often treated as a variant spelling of Marlon, an English name whose own origin is disputed: one common explanation traces Marlon to a diminutive of Mark (from Latin Marcus, a name associated with the Roman god Mars), while another treats it as a surname-derived name of uncertain meaning. Marlan may also have arisen independently as a blend of a Mar- element drawn from names such as Mary or Mark with the -lan ending seen in Alan and Leland. Because the name is uncommon and its earliest uses are not clearly documented, none of these explanations can be confirmed as the single source.
Marlan Name History & Origins
Marlan is a rare name found mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States. It appears alongside the similar Marlon, a name that was long established as an English surname before coming into use as a given name, and it is often regarded as one of several spelling variants of that name, along with Marlen and Marlin. Whether Marlan descends from Marlon or arose separately as a combination of familiar name elements is not documented. Clear early records for Marlan specifically are sparse, so its development cannot be traced in detail; the actor Marlon Brando is a well-known bearer of the related form Marlon, but no evidence ties the spelling Marlan to a particular source or event.
How Popular is the Name Marlan?
Marlan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1941. Its best rank was #1,291 in 1941.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | #7,251 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,011 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,220 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #13,619 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #13,369 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #11,485 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #13,419 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,632 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #11,655 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #11,742 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,546 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,597 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,621 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,652 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #12,533 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #9,280 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #8,170 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #6,288 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #8,783 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #7,608 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #8,136 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #5,526 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,681 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #6,761 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #5,322 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #5,508 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #5,360 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #4,319 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #8,758 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1988 | #5,064 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,462 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,032 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #3,850 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #5,980 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #4,793 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #3,107 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #3,327 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #3,753 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #2,389 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #2,412 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #1,917 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1973 | #1,805 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #2,388 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #1,764 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1970 | #2,589 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1969 | #2,505 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,160 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #2,096 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #2,295 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #2,568 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #1,949 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,267 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #1,740 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #1,982 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #2,092 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,898 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #2,226 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #1,777 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #1,993 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,946 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #1,869 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,933 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #1,572 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #2,325 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,080 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,297 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #2,080 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #2,133 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,927 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,087 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #1,714 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #2,245 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #1,713 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1941 | #1,291 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1940 | #1,865 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1939 | #2,130 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1938 | #1,594 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #1,334 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1936 | #1,578 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1935 | #2,096 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #1,483 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1933 | #1,750 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1932 | #1,971 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1931 | #1,674 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1930 | #2,721 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #2,407 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1928 | #1,501 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #2,638 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #2,835 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1925 | #2,278 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,573 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1923 | #3,687 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #3,743 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #3,750 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #2,296 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1918 | #4,000 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,347 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,271 | 7 | 0.0008% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Marlan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Marlan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Marlan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.