Marley
Girl name · #322 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Marley? In official American birth records, Marley has been tracked continuously since 1937, giving it 88 years of documented American history.
Marley ranks #322 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 950 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #218, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,895 girls born in 2025 was named Marley.
The 88-year story
Marley first appears in the Social Security records in 1937, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 2,359 girls were named Marley — good for #145 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 Marley per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marley in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marley is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marley is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Marley is most common in MS (1.6 per 1,000), NV (1.5 per 1,000), ID (1.4 per 1,000), LA (1.3 per 1,000), SC (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Marley is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Marley
Statistically, parents drawn to Marley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Miley, Presley, Ainsley, Mckinley, and Finley.
MileyPresleyAinsleyMckinleyFinleyHarleyKinleyCharley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 950 | #322 |
| 2024 | 1,108 | #285 |
| 2023 | 1,108 | #284 |
| 2022 | 1,139 | #276 |
| 2021 | 1,379 | #215 |
| 2020 | 1,369 | #211 |
| 2019 | 1,336 | #233 |
| 2018 | 1,418 | #222 |
| 2017 | 1,475 | #209 |
| 2016 | 1,500 | #215 |
| 2015 | 1,499 | #218 |
| 2014 | 1,650 | #203 |
| 2013 | 1,533 | #209 |
| 2012 | 1,242 | #260 |
| 2011 | 1,237 | #259 |
| 2010 | 1,345 | #234 |
| 2009 | 2,171 | #149 |
| 2008 | 2,359 | #145 |
| 2007 | 839 | #390 |
| 2006 | 766 | #416 |
| 2005 | 651 | #472 |
| 2004 | 556 | #515 |
| 2003 | 486 | #574 |
| 2002 | 404 | #630 |
| 2001 | 423 | #596 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Marley?
In official American birth records, the name Marley first appeared in 1937 (over 88 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 88 years.
Is Marley a popular girl name?
Marley ranked #322 among girls in 2025 with 950 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #218.
When was the name Marley most popular?
Marley peaked in 2008, when 2,359 American girls received the name (ranked #145 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,895 newborn American girls was named Marley. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.