Marian
Girl name · #1102 in 2025 · Uniqueness 53/100
Marian ranks #1102 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 217 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1095, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,295 girls born in 2025 was named Marian.
The 145-year story
Marian first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 56 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 4,197 girls were named Marian — good for #64 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marian per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marian in class?
Marian scores 53 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marian is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marians were TX (38), FL (16), CA (15), PA (10), NC (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marian
Statistically, parents drawn to Marian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marion, Marcella, Marjorie, Mattie, and Carmela.
MarionMarcellaMarjorieMattieCarmelaGenevaMarleneMarilyn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 217 | #1102 |
| 2024 | 209 | #1152 |
| 2023 | 210 | #1154 |
| 2022 | 214 | #1138 |
| 2021 | 173 | #1304 |
| 2020 | 164 | #1343 |
| 2019 | 190 | #1233 |
| 2018 | 197 | #1204 |
| 2017 | 190 | #1248 |
| 2016 | 203 | #1214 |
| 2015 | 236 | #1095 |
| 2014 | 191 | #1261 |
| 2013 | 172 | #1351 |
| 2012 | 185 | #1288 |
| 2011 | 151 | #1480 |
| 2010 | 210 | #1156 |
| 2009 | 169 | #1398 |
| 2008 | 194 | #1281 |
| 2007 | 182 | #1332 |
| 2006 | 202 | #1197 |
| 2005 | 204 | #1143 |
| 2004 | 208 | #1099 |
| 2003 | 191 | #1138 |
| 2002 | 198 | #1073 |
| 2001 | 207 | #1037 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marian a popular girl name?
Marian ranked #1102 among girls in 2025 with 217 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1095.
When was the name Marian most popular?
Marian peaked in 1924, when 4,197 American girls received the name (ranked #64 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,295 newborn American girls was named Marian. It scores 53/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.