Marlaya
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly a blend of names.
Name Census estimates that about 141 living Americans carry the first name Marlaya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Marlaya today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marlaya births was 2024 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marlaya. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
141
~ 1 in 2,430,882 Americans
Peak year
2024
12 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,744
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Marlaya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marlaya from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 83 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Marlaya remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marlaya by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Marlaya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Marlaya
The name Marlaya is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the 20th century. It does not have a clear linguistic or cultural origin, but appears to be a combination of the names Mary and Laya, or possibly a variation of the name Marla.
There are no known historical references to the name Marlaya in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. The earliest recorded examples of the name are from the late 20th century, with the first recorded instances appearing in the United States.
While the name Marlaya is not particularly common, there are a few notable individuals who have borne this name throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Marlaya Ames, an American actress and model who was born in 1984. She has appeared in various television shows and films throughout her career.
Another individual named Marlaya is Marlaya Loftus, an American artist and painter who was born in 1972. Her works have been exhibited in galleries across the United States and she is known for her vibrant and colorful paintings.
In the world of sports, there is Marlaya Jones, an American basketball player who played for the University of Oklahoma in the early 2000s. She was a standout player during her college career and went on to play professionally in Europe after graduating.
Marlaya Velazquez is a notable figure in the field of education. She is an American educator who has worked tirelessly to promote literacy and educational opportunities for underprivileged children. She founded a nonprofit organization called "Literacy for All" in 2005, which has had a significant impact in various communities.
Lastly, Marlaya Chambers is an American musician and songwriter who gained recognition in the late 2010s. Her debut album, "Dreamscape," received critical acclaim and she has since toured extensively, performing her unique blend of indie and folk music.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Marlaya throughout history. While the name is relatively modern and lacks a deep historical background, it has been embraced by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their own unique mark on the world.
People
Marlaya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marlaya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Marlaya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marlaya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 141 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marlaya going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,430,882 US residents.
Is Marlaya a common name?
We classify Marlaya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 142 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marlaya most popular?
The single biggest year for Marlaya was 2024, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marlaya is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Marlaya in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Marlaya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marlaya in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Marlaya still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Marlaya in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Marlaya can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Marlaya?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Marlaya on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.