Marveline
A feminine name derived from the French word "merveille" meaning "marvelous" or "wonderful".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Marveline. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Marveline today is around 93 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marveline births was 1922 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marveline. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Marveline is about 93 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Marvelines were born before 1943.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Marveline. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1922
13 babies that year
Average age
93
years old
1943 SSA rank
#5,116
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Marveline: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marveline from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 63 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marveline 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 Marveline during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Marvelines live
Origin
Meaning and history of Marveline
The given name Marveline is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the late 19th or early 20th century. It appears to be a feminine variation of the English word "marvelous," which itself derives from the Latin "mirabilis," meaning "wonderful" or "marvelous." The name may have been created as a way to imbue a sense of wonder and delight upon the bearer.
While there are no known ancient or historical references to the name Marveline, its novelty and unique sound have likely contributed to its adoption in various parts of the world. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Marveline Yandall, an American actress born in 1894 who appeared in several silent films in the 1910s and 1920s.
Another notable figure was Marveline Cole, an American author and poet born in 1906. She published several works of poetry and prose throughout her career, including the collection "Poems of Life and Love" in 1929.
In the realm of education, Marveline Howe was an American educator and administrator born in 1892. She served as the dean of women at the University of New Mexico from 1920 to 1945, playing a vital role in shaping the institution's policies and supporting female students.
Across the Atlantic, Marveline Aubry was a French painter born in 1888. Her vibrant works often depicted scenes from everyday Parisian life, and she exhibited her paintings at several prestigious salons throughout her career.
Finally, Marveline Cravath was an American philanthropist and socialite born in 1892. She was actively involved in various charitable organizations and was a prominent figure in New York City's high society circles during the early 20th century.
While the name Marveline may not have a long historical lineage, these individuals have contributed to its legacy and helped establish it as a unique and intriguing name choice in modern times.
People
Marveline + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marveline 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
Marveline: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marveline?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marveline 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Marveline a common name?
We classify Marveline as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 134 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marveline most popular?
The single biggest year for Marveline was 1922, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marveline is about 93 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Marveline a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marveline 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.
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.