Marwan
An Arabic masculine name meaning "beautiful, pleasing" or "longing".
Name Census estimates that about 1,282 living Americans carry the first name Marwan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Marwan today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marwan births was 2017 (55 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marwan. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 267,359 Americans
Peak year
2017
55 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,722
Tracked since 1961
Popularity
Marwan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marwan from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 436 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Marwan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marwan 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 Marwan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Marwans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. New York, California, Minnesota recorded the most babies named Marwan, while Florida, Texas, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 38 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Marwan
The name Marwan has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "mara," which means "to pass through" or "to move forward." The name is believed to symbolize progress, advancement, and a journey through life.
In Islamic tradition, Marwan is closely associated with the Umayyad dynasty, one of the most prominent dynasties in early Islamic history. The name gained prominence during this period, as it was borne by several influential figures, including Marwan I, the fourth caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, who ruled from 684 to 685 AD.
The earliest recorded example of the name Marwan can be found in historical records and texts from the 7th and 8th centuries AD. One of the most notable bearers of the name was Marwan ibn al-Hakam, a prominent figure in early Islamic history who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Umayyad dynasty.
Throughout history, several influential individuals have carried the name Marwan. One such figure was Marwan II, the last Umayyad caliph, who ruled from 744 to 750 AD. His reign marked the end of the Umayyad dynasty and the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Another notable bearer of the name was Marwan ibn Muhammad, a renowned scholar and poet who lived during the 10th century AD. His works, which included poetry and literary criticism, have left a lasting impact on Arabic literature.
In more recent times, Marwan has been the name of several notable figures, including Marwan al-Shehhi, one of the hijackers involved in the September 11th attacks in 2001. However, it is important to note that this was an unfortunate association and does not reflect the true meaning and historical significance of the name.
Other prominent individuals with the name Marwan include Marwan Burghuti, a Palestinian political leader and activist, and Marwan Kenzari, a Dutch actor of Tunisian descent known for his roles in films such as "Aladdin" and "The Old Guard."
The name Marwan continues to be popular in the Arabic-speaking world and among Muslim communities around the globe. Its rich historical and cultural significance, combined with its beautiful meaning, make it a name that has endured throughout the centuries.
People
Marwan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marwan 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
Marwan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marwan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,282 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marwan 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 267,359 US residents.
Is Marwan a common name?
We classify Marwan as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,309 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marwan most popular?
The single biggest year for Marwan was 2017, when 55 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marwan is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Marwan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marwan in the SSA data are male. 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.