Marla Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Marla is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'bitter.' It evolved from historical forms such as 'Mara' and 'Marlene' and gained popularity in the mid-20th century. The name is often associated with strength and independence, and it has no direct biblical relevance. Notable people with this name include Marla Maples and the fictional character Marla Hooch.
The name Marla is most popular in Kansas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Marla has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Marla' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5842nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8406th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4569th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 692nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 273rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 327th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 829th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2060th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2480th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Marla' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Marla"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɑːr.lə/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Marla is often thought to be derived from the Hebrew name 'Mara,' which means 'bitter.' It can also be associated with the name 'Marlene,' which combines elements from 'Maria' and 'Magdalene.'
Meaning
bitter
Language Evolution
Mara, Marlene, Marla
Historical Usage
Marla gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a unique and modern name.
Variants & Derivatives
Marlene, Mara, Marley
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Marla is perceived as a trendy and feminine name, often associated with strength and independence.
Famous People
Marla Maples, an American actress and television personality, Marla Hooch, a fictional character from the film 'A League of Their Own'
Explore More Marla Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Marla"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Marla"
"Marla" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5842nd of 7552 | 18 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8406th of 10718 | 15 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4569th of 9107 | 67 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 692nd of 9204 | 1,935 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 273rd of 12526 | 18,581 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 327th of 19264 | 12,126 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 829th of 27321 | 3,639 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2060th of 35406 | 1,466 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2480th of 30306 | 876 |
Regional Popularity of "Marla" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Marla" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.01% 464th/1546 |
44.09% 686th/1556 |
59.92% 1410th/2353 |
26.44% 409th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.98% 200th/2227 |
14.49% 352nd/2430 |
13.28% 379th/2853 |
8.04% 223rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
9.53% 280th/2937 |
11.66% 406th/3483 |
9.52% 335th/3518 |
8.28% 335th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.49% 755th/3685 |
18.66% 835th/4475 |
15.44% 802nd/5194 |
14.75% 932nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
43.30% 1984th/4582 |
50.37% 2601st/5164 |
27.44% 2007th/7313 |
25.07% 1871st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
50.75% 2022nd/3984 |
56.85% 2551st/4487 |
41.03% 2799th/6822 |
35.80% 2247th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Marla"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Marla" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.