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Marion Name Meaning, Origins & History

Marion

Pronunciation: MARE-ee-uhn

Origin Hebrew, surnames Gender Unisex
GIRLS RANK
#2,044
TREND
177
BOYS RANK
#2,504
TREND
183
Peak Years
1924, 1921, 1920
Lowest Years
2025, 2008, 2006
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Marion in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Marion

  • An established favorite: Marion held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 46 consecutive years, from 1891 through 1936.
  • A favorite of earlier generations: Marion appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 6 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1886 through 1886.
  • More than 261 thousand babies named Marion: U.S. records list 261,712 babies given the name Marion from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 72,494 boys received the name Marion - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.

What Does the Name Marion Mean?

Marion is a French diminutive of Marie, the French form of Mary, and its meaning is uncertain. The name ultimately goes back to the Hebrew name Miryam, whose etymology is disputed. Traditional explanations connect Miryam with Hebrew marar ('to be bitter') or with a root meaning 'rebellious'; another proposal connects it with an Egyptian word meaning 'beloved.' The familiar title 'Star of the Sea' is a later Christian interpretation of the name Mary, not a literal translation. In French, the ending -on gives Marion a familiar or affectionate sense, so it functions as a diminutive meaning 'little Mary' rather than carrying a separate meaning of its own.

Marion Name History & Origins

Marion developed in medieval France as a diminutive of Marie. French used the suffix -on to form affectionate or familiar versions of names, and Marion is one of several such forms. It entered English usage through Norman French after the Norman Conquest, when French names became common in England. In medieval England, Marion was used as a woman's name.

One early literary appearance is in Adam de la Halle's Jeu de Robin et Marion, a French play from the late 13th century in which Marion is a shepherdess. That work is a literary use of an existing name, not the name's origin. In France, Marion has remained a feminine given name. In the United States, it has also been used as a masculine given name; documented bearers include Marion Robert Morrison, the actor later known as John Wayne, and Marion Barry, the politician and mayor of Washington, D.C. The similar name Marian, also used in English, is associated with Maid Marian in the Robin Hood tradition.

How Popular is the Name Marion?

Marion recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1924. Marion ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1884, then returned in 1886 and remained through 1886.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Marion

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Established Favorite Girl Names

Established Girl Names: Favorites Through the Years

Past Favorite Girl Names

Past Favorite Girl Names: Once-Popular Names

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How the Name Marion Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.

✦ Marion's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Marion's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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