Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Marsha
GirlLatin· “variant of Marcia, from Mars”
- Meaning
- variant of Marcia, from Mars
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- MAHR-shuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #7,749
- US babies 2025
- 14
- Best rank
- #68 (1950)
- Peak year
- 1952
Meaning and origin of Marsha
Marsha is a Latin name that means “variant of Marcia, from Mars”.
Marsha is a spelling of Marcia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Marcius, which is linked to Mars, the god of war. Marcia was used in English from the nineteenth century, and Marsha reflects the English sound of the name. It became popular in the US in the mid twentieth century. It is said MAHR-shuh, with the stress on the first syllable. The television character Marcia Brady made the name familiar, though with the other spelling. Shorter options include Marsh and Marshie.
Other spellings with the same sound: Marcia.
Popularity over time
Marsha first appears in US Social Security records in 1908. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 59 different years, starting in 1931. Its best national rank was #68 in 1950, and the most babies received it in 1952, when 5,583 were named Marsha. In 2025, 14 babies were named Marsha, and it ranked #7,749 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,138 in 1920, #68 in 1950, #399 in 1980, #3,318 in 2000, #6,314 in 2010, and #7,749 in 2025. Of the 104,191 US girls named Marsha since records began, 40% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 27,414 babies. Since 2010, 309 more have been named Marsha.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ellen, Roberta, Yvonne, Charlene, and Gwendolyn.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Marsha is usually pronounced MAHR-shuh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-ha”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Marcia.
Middle names for Marsha
A few middle names that flow with Marsha: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Marsha
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Lists that include Marsha
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marsha mean?
Marsha is a Latin name that means “variant of Marcia, from Mars”.
What is the origin of the name Marsha?
Marsha has Latin roots. Marsha is a spelling of Marcia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Marcius, which is linked to Mars, the god of war.
Is Marsha a popular name?
Not especially. Marsha ranked #7,749 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Marsha a boy or girl name?
Marsha is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Marsha?
Marsha is usually pronounced MAHR-shuh. 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