Marlei
Girl name · #4244 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Marlei? In official American birth records, Marlei has been tracked continuously since 2002, giving it 23 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 34 baby girls were named Marlei, placing it at #4244 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3024, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 girls born in 2025 was named Marlei.
The 23-year story
Marlei first appears in the Social Security records in 2002, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 70 girls were named Marlei — good for #2468 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Marlei per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marlei against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marlei in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marlei is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Marlei will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Marlei is most common
State-level data for Marlei is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Marlei
Statistically, parents drawn to Marlei tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Harlei, Rylei, Mahari, Milli, and Merci.
HarleiRyleiMahariMilliMerciMaloniMishkaMaesyn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marlei | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #4172 |
| 2024 | 26 | #5021 |
| 2023 | 47 | #3386 |
| 2022 | 60 | #2821 |
| 2021 | 62 | #2751 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2468 |
| 2019 | 61 | #2752 |
| 2018 | 53 | #3050 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2964 |
| 2016 | 54 | #3060 |
| 2015 | 56 | #3024 |
| 2014 | 39 | #3848 |
| 2013 | 26 | #5143 |
| 2012 | 25 | #5398 |
| 2011 | 21 | #6148 |
| 2010 | 26 | #5247 |
| 2009 | 28 | #5097 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7073 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10129 |
| 2006 | 5 | #17168 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12187 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Marlei?
In official American birth records, the name Marlei first appeared in 2002 (over 23 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 23 years.
Is Marlei a popular girl name?
Marlei ranked #4244 among girls in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3024.
When was the name Marlei most popular?
Marlei peaked in 2020, when 70 American girls received the name (ranked #2468 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marlei?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American girls was named Marlei. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.