Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Marnie
GirlScottish, Latin· “pet form of Marina; of the sea”
- Meaning
- pet form of Marina; of the sea
- Origin
- Scottish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- MAR-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,186
- US babies 2025
- 85
- Best rank
- #428 (1969)
- Peak year
- 1969
Meaning and origin of Marnie
Marnie is a Scottish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Marina; of the sea”.
Marnie is a pet form of Marina, a Latin name meaning of the sea, from marinus. It has been used in Scotland and later spread to the United States. It is said MAR-nee. The name is known through the novel Marnie by Winston Graham and the film Alfred Hitchcock made from it. Marni is another spelling. Because it sounds like a nickname, some families use it with Marina or Margaret on the birth certificate, though it also works as a full name. The sea meaning it takes from Marina is not obvious from the short form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Marney.
Popularity over time
Marnie first appears in US Social Security records in 1915. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 13 different years, starting in 1965. Its best national rank was #428 in 1969, the same year it reached its highest count of 510 babies. In 2025, 85 babies were named Marnie, and it ranked #2,186 nationally. That is 270% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,862 in 1950, #1,479 in 1980, #7,868 in 2000, #9,056 in 2010, and #2,186 in 2025. Of the 6,141 US girls named Marnie since records began, 37% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 1,939 babies. Since 2010, 644 more have been named Marnie.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Shonda, Josette, Gena, Bridgett, and Aretha.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Marnie ranked highest in Iowa, Minnesota, and Virginia.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Marnie is usually pronounced MAR-nee, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-ie”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Marney.
Middle names for Marnie
A few middle names that flow with Marnie: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Marnie
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Lists that include Marnie
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marnie mean?
Marnie is a Scottish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “pet form of Marina; of the sea”.
What is the origin of the name Marnie?
Marnie has Scottish and Latin roots. Marnie is a pet form of Marina, a Latin name meaning of the sea, from marinus.
Is Marnie a popular name?
Not especially. Marnie ranked #2,186 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Marnie a boy or girl name?
Marnie is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Marnie?
Marnie is usually pronounced MAR-nee. 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