Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Marshall
BoyFrench, Germanic· “horse keeper”
- Meaning
- horse keeper
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- MAHR-shuhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #340
- US babies 2025
- 977
- Best rank
- #132 (1886)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Marshall
Marshall is a French and Germanic name that means “horse keeper”.
Marshall comes from the Old French mareschal, which developed from Germanic words meaning horse and servant. It originally described a person who looked after horses, but the title rose over time to mean a high military officer or royal official, and in the United States a federal law officer. As a surname it belonged to Chief Justice John Marshall and to General George C. Marshall of the Marshall Plan. As a first name, Marshall feels steady, capable and a little old-fashioned in a good way. Marsh and Shall are occasional nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Marshal.
Popularity over time
Marshall has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #132 in 1886, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 1,269 were named Marshall. In 2025, 977 babies were named Marshall, and it ranked #340 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #162 in 1920, #194 in 1950, #263 in 1980, #344 in 2000, #374 in 2010, and #340 in 2025. Of the 97,447 US boys named Marshall since records began, 11% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 10,241 babies. Since 2010, 14,685 more have been named Marshall.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Sammy, Benny, Freddie, Lonnie, and Denny.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Marshall ranked highest in Wyoming, Maine, and South Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | #112 | 5 |
| Maine | #148 | 9 |
| South Carolina | #170 | 34 |
| West Virginia | #220 | 9 |
| Montana | #220 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Marshall is usually pronounced MAHR-shuhl, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with M and ends in “-ll”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Marshal.
Middle names for Marshall
A few middle names that flow with Marshall: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Marshall
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Lists that include Marshall
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marshall mean?
Marshall is a French and Germanic name that means “horse keeper”.
What is the origin of the name Marshall?
Marshall has French and Germanic roots. Marshall comes from the Old French mareschal, which developed from Germanic words meaning horse and servant.
Is Marshall a popular name?
Yes. Marshall ranked #340 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Marshall a boy or girl name?
Marshall is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Marshall?
Marshall is usually pronounced MAHR-shuhl. 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