Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Marlow
UnisexEnglish, Old English· “remnant of a lake”
- Meaning
- remnant of a lake
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- MAHR-loh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,167
- US babies 2025
- 199
- Best rank
- #1,167 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Marlow
Marlow is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “remnant of a lake”.
Marlow comes from an English place name, especially the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, from Old English words meaning remnant of a lake or land left after a pond has drained. It became a surname and then a given name. Marlow is the name of the narrator in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe bore a related surname. The name is used for both boys and girls. It has a stylish, literary feel. Mar and Lowe could work as nicknames.
Popularity over time
Marlow first appears in US Social Security records in 1963. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,167, and its highest count, 199 babies. Use has grown 134% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #8,705 in 1980, #4,565 in 2010, and #1,167 in 2025. Of the 1,903 US girls named Marlow since records began, 48% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 726 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Winslow, Kit, Psalm, Renley, and Emrys.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Marlow ranked highest in Utah, Colorado, and Wisconsin.
Gender, sound and spelling
Marlow is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 74% of US babies named Marlow were girls and 26% were boys.
Marlow is usually pronounced MAHR-loh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-ow”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Marlo and Marlowe.
Middle names for Marlow
A few middle names that flow with Marlow: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Marlow
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Lists that include Marlow
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marlow mean?
Marlow is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “remnant of a lake”.
What is the origin of the name Marlow?
Marlow has English and Old English roots. Marlow comes from an English place name, especially the town of Marlow in Buckinghamshire, from Old English words meaning remnant of a lake or land left after a pond has drained.
Is Marlow a popular name?
Not especially. Marlow ranked #1,167 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Marlow a boy or girl name?
Marlow is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 74% of US babies named Marlow were girls and 26% were boys.
How do you pronounce Marlow?
Marlow is usually pronounced MAHR-loh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings