Marla
Marla is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Derived from Marlene or Maria, meaning 'wished-for child', 'rebellious', or 'of Magdala'.
Origin and history
Marla is a feminine given name, historically developed as a shortened form of Marlene or a combination of Maria and Margaret/Lana. It gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century in the United States and remains a recognized classical choice. Today, it is moderately rare but familiar to modern parents.
Popularity in the United States
38,781 babies in the United States have been named Marla since 1880. It ranks #701 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1619.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.6 %)
- IL (8.5 %)
- TX (7.9 %)
- OH (6.6 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 16 |
| 1920-1930 | 73 |
| 1930-1940 | 699 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,835 |
| 1950-1960 | 11,441 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,615 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,613 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,776 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,616 |
| 2000-2010 | 905 |
| 2010-2019 | 710 |
| 2020-2029 | 482 |
Famous people named Marla
- Marla Maples: Actress, Television Personality
- Marla Gibbs: Actress, Singer
- Marla Sokoloff: Actress, Musician
Nicknames
Marle, Marls
Fun facts
- The name experienced a surge in pop culture recognition through character names in notable 1990s films and literature.
- Marla reached its highest US popularity rankings during the mid-20th century before gradually tapering off.