Given name & surname

Maren

“of the sea; a seaman; a sailor”·“woman of the sea”·“star of the sea”

Maren is a variant of Marriner. One English interpretation is “of the sea; a seaman; a sailor.” In German use, Maren is a short form of Marina. One Latin interpretation is “woman of the sea.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

Maren is a variant of Marriner. One English interpretation is “of the sea; a seaman; a sailor.” In German use, Maren is a short form of Marina. One Latin interpretation is “woman of the sea.” Maren is a variant of Mary. Interpretations include “star of the sea” and “from the sea of bitterness”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.

Explained through its name family

Where it comes from

Maren is a variant of Marriner. An origin associated with Marriner is English. In German use, Maren is a short form of Marina. An origin associated with Marina is Late Latin.

Explained through its name family

How it developed

In Danish usage, Maren is a diminutive of Maria. In German usage, Maren is a short form of Maria.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Maren through the years

Babies since 1880
13,064
5 boys · 13,059 girls
Most popular year
2021
707 babies
2025
654
#472 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
+20%
Rising
0200400600192019401960198020002025Highest share 2020407
Maren in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1916–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inIndiana, Ohio, Wisconsin
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Indiana (34), Ohio (53), Wisconsin (21), Michigan (28), Washington (21).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 654 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 472 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Ohio had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (53). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,315 as a first name in 2020; 264 as a surname in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Maren’s family of names

In Danish usage, Maren is a diminutive of Maria. Maren has a related form in Mary. In German usage, Maren is a short form of Maria.

Walk Maren’s family in the name graph

MarenΜαρένMarénMariaMaryMarinaMarenaMareneMareenMarrinerMarianaMaalat

Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Around the world

Maren has relatives in 5 languages.

GreenlandicDanishGerman

8 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Dots on the border stand for languages further away. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Spellings & scripts 2

The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.

Across languages 2

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

Similar names

If you love Maren, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

English · Nature

Wren

“resembling a small songbird”

70CommonRising fast

13% boys · 87% girls

Gaelic · Nature

Monroe

“woman from the river” · “from the mouth of the river Roe”

63FamiliarRising

20% boys · 80% girls

English · Nature

Marilla

“of the shining sea”

18Very rareRising

>99% girls

French · Nature

Magnolia

“resembling the flowering tree”

74CommonRising fast

>99% girls

English · Nature

Harley

“from the meadow of the hares”

65FamiliarEasing

20% boys · 80% girls

English · Nature

Winter

“born during the winter season”

63FamiliarSteady

6% boys · 94% girls

Hebrew · Nature

Azalea

“of the dry earth; resembling the flower” · “one who is spared by God”

66FamiliarRising fast

>99% girls

Nature

Birdie

“one who is famously bright and beautiful” · “resembling a little bird”

55FamiliarRising fast

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Maren’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Maren

A sister for Maren