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

Popularity of Marla by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Marla is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Marla being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 86 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marla.

The history of the first name Marla

The name Marla is derived from the German language and is believed to have originated in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is a feminine form of the name Marlo or Marlowe, which can be traced back to the Old English word "mere" meaning "lake" or "pool."

In its earliest known usage, Marla was a variant spelling of the name Marleyne, which was a feminine form of the male name Marlen. This name was particularly popular in the German-speaking regions of Europe during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marla can be found in the records of the city of Cologne, Germany, where a woman named Marla von Köln was mentioned in a legal document dated 1472. This suggests that the name was already in use in that region by the late 15th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Marla. One of the earliest was Marla of Rüdesheim (1470-1541), a German abbess and author who wrote extensively on religious and monastic topics during the Reformation era.

In the 19th century, Marla Verne (1824-1892) was a French author and playwright who gained recognition for her romantic novels and plays depicting the lives of aristocratic women in Paris.

Another prominent figure was Marla Gilman (1892-1964), an American sculptor and artist who was known for her modernist works and served as the director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 1939 to 1959.

In the 20th century, Marla Gibbs (born 1931) is an American actress and comedian who rose to fame for her role as Florence Johnston on the popular sitcom "The Jeffersons" and later appeared in various other television shows and films.

Marla Maples (born 1963) is an American actress and television personality who was briefly married to Donald Trump in the 1990s and is the mother of his daughter Tiffany Trump.

While the name Marla has its roots in the German language and culture, it has since been adopted and used in various other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to its Germanic heritage and the medieval period in Europe.

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 Marla was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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