Marion: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “drop of the sea”
- Origin
- French
- Say it
- MAIR-ee-un · 3 syllables
- Used for
- Both (72% girls, 28% boys since 1880)
Marion is a medieval French diminutive of Marie, ultimately from Mary. Through Mary, its meaning is traditionally given as 'drop of the sea,' though the etymology of Mary is debated.
How popular is Marion?
Babies named Marion in 2024168
2024 rank#1,860 girls
Peak year1917
Total US babies since 1880261,565
Marion is steady now but far below its 1917 peak.
Names like Marion
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Marion questions
What does the name Marion mean?
Marion means "drop of the sea". It comes from French. Marion is a medieval French diminutive of Marie, ultimately from Mary. Through Mary, its meaning is traditionally given as 'drop of the sea,' though the etymology of Mary is debated.
Is Marion a boy or girl name?
Marion is used for both: about 72% of US babies named Marion since 1880 were girls.
How popular is Marion?
168 US babies were named Marion in 2024. Its peak year was 1917.
How do you pronounce Marion?
Marion is usually pronounced MAIR-ee-un.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.