Find out how popular the first name Marilou has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Marilou by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Marilou is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marilou.

The history of the first name Marilou

The name Marilou is a French feminine given name that combines the names Marie and Louise. The first part, Marie, has its origins in the ancient Semitic languages, deriving from the Hebrew name Miryam or the Egyptian Mry. This root is thought to mean "beloved" or "wished-for child." The second part, Lou, is a French diminutive form of the name Louise, which stems from the Germanic name Hlodwig, meaning "famous warrior."

Marilou can be traced back to medieval France, where the veneration of the Virgin Mary was widespread. The name Marie was tremendously popular during this period, and it was common to combine it with other names, such as Louise, to create variations like Marilou.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marilou can be found in a 13th-century French manuscript, where it appears as a variant of Marie-Louise. However, it remained relatively obscure until the 19th century when it started gaining popularity in certain regions of France.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Marilou. One of the earliest was Marilou de Pardieu (c. 1290-1360), a French noblewoman and writer who left behind a collection of poems and songs. Another prominent figure was Marilou Duval (1768-1836), a French actress and dancer who performed at the Comédie-Française in Paris.

In the 20th century, Marilou Pastreich (1912-2005) was a German-American artist and printmaker known for her abstract expressionist works. Marilou Diaz-Abaya (1955-2012) was a celebrated Filipino film director and screenwriter who tackled social issues in her films.

More recently, Marilou Danley (born 1952) gained public attention as the girlfriend of the perpetrator of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. However, she was not directly involved in the incident and was cleared by investigators.

While the name Marilou has French origins, it has also found use in other cultures and languages, particularly in the Francophone world. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries, but it continues to be a recognizable and evocative name with a rich historical lineage.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marilou was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marilou, please contact us.

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