Entry № 3600 · Latin origin

Marian Marian — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ MAIR-ee-an /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Latin
Meaning
"Of Mary"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (English)

A name that means "of mary".

Marian is a compound name combining Mary (Hebrew Miriam) and Anne (Hebrew Hannah) — like Mariana but with the English pronunciation. The name appears in the medieval English ballads of Robin Hood, where Maid Marian is Robin's beloved.

Marian was hugely popular in the early 20th century, peaking at #66 in 1928. The contralto Marian Anderson (1897-1993), who broke the colour barrier in classical music and sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, gave the name modern American civil-rights association. Today Marian sits outside the top 1000 but is quietly returning.

Of Mary. Maid Marian. The contralto who sang on the Lincoln Memorial steps.

The name in its native script.

Marian
Transliteration
Marian
Pronunciation
/ ˈmɛr.i.ən /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Marian stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 66 in 1928
Babies named Marian · last year
247 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №66 NOW · —

Marians before her.

Real people
Marian Anderson
American contralto and civil rights icon.
1897 – 1993
Marian McPartland
British-American jazz pianist.
1918 – 2013
In fiction
Maid Marian
Robin Hood's beloved in the English ballads.
Medieval English ballads

Names connected to Marian.

The number behind Marian.

9

The Humanitarian

Marian reduces to nine — the number of devoted Marian piety.

Why families chose this name.

"Marian Anderson. The Lincoln Memorial. We named our daughter for that day in 1939."
Imani · Mother of one · Philadelphia