Marlowe
Boy name · #3249 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Marlowe? In official American birth records, Marlowe has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
Marlowe ranks #3249 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 36 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #5289, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Marlowe.
The 113-year story
Marlowe first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 47 babies and a rank of #2750. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Marlowe per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marlowe against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marlowe in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marlowe is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Marlowe will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Marlowe is most common
State-level data for Marlowe 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 Marlowe
Statistically, parents drawn to Marlowe tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rowe, Miracle, Marlow, Moishe, and Henrique.
RoweMiracleMarlowMoisheHenriqueAtleeConnellWinslow
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marlowe | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 47 | #2750 |
| 2023 | 39 | #3117 |
| 2022 | 33 | #3464 |
| 2021 | 16 | #5562 |
| 2020 | 21 | #4540 |
| 2019 | 21 | #4639 |
| 2018 | 30 | #3607 |
| 2017 | 16 | #5526 |
| 2016 | 19 | #4943 |
| 2015 | 17 | #5289 |
| 2014 | 16 | #5485 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7026 |
| 2012 | 14 | #6001 |
| 2011 | 19 | #4822 |
| 2010 | 16 | #5478 |
| 2009 | 11 | #7236 |
| 2008 | 16 | #5487 |
| 2007 | 8 | #8915 |
| 2006 | 15 | #5525 |
| 2005 | 8 | #8299 |
| 2004 | 5 | #11356 |
| 2003 | 12 | #5877 |
| 2002 | 10 | #6522 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10556 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Marlowe?
In official American birth records, the name Marlowe first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Marlowe a popular boy name?
Marlowe ranked #3249 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5289.
When was the name Marlowe most popular?
Marlowe peaked in 2024, when 47 American boys received the name (ranked #2750 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Marlowe?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Marlowe. 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.