Given name & surname
Marion
“a manly man”
Marion is a variant of Mario. One Latin interpretation is “a manly man.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Marion is a variant of Mario. One Latin interpretation is “a manly man.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Marion is a variant of Mario. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain. Marion is a variant of Mariane. An origin associated with Mariane is French.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Marion is used as a diminutive of Marie.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Marion through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 261,713
- 72,495 boys · 189,218 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 7,660 babies
- 2025
- 147
- #2,044 for girls · #2,504 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 34% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 93 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,044 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,047 in 1924. It also appeared in 54 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Virginia had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 79,603 as a first name in 2020; 13,755 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.
Marion’s family of names
Marion is a diminutive of Marie. In English usage, Marion is a masculine form of Mary. In French usage, Marion has a conventional equivalent in the German form Maria.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Marion has relatives in 10 languages.
10 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Mariavariant · German
- Mariovariant
- Mariefull form · Old French, Portuguese
- Marianvariant · English
- Marianovariant
- Marrionlikely variant
- Marianevariant
- Marionnlikely variant
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Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Maryfeminine form · English
- Marlonequivalent
- Mayoncognate · Walloon
- MarjonDutch
- מערעןequivalent
- Marijonasequivalent
- Marijonaequivalent
- МэрионRussian
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People named Marion
- Marine Le PenFrench politician (born 1968)
- Marion CotillardFrench actress and model (born 1975)
- Marion BartoliFrench tennis playerborn 1984
- Marion JonesAmerican athleteborn 1975
- Marion Zimmer BradleyAmerican novelist and editor (1930–1999)
- Marion MaréchalFrench politician (born 1989)
- Pat RobertsonAmerican media mogul and minister (1930–2023)
- Marion DaviesAmerican actress (1897–1961)
- Marion RossAmerican actress (born 1928)
Characters named Marion: Marion Ravenwood (the Indiana Jones franchise, wife of Indiana Jones), Molly Bloom (fictional character, wife of the main protagonist in Ulysses), Marion Crane (the 1959 novel Psycho; portrayed by Janet Leigh in the 1960 film).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Marion, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Marcelle
“the little warrior” · “dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
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Marvel
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Victory
Victory is a surname.
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Garnet
“resembling the dark-red gem”
33% boys · 67% girls
Merrill
“of the shining sea”
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Marvis
Marvis is a masculine given name.
45% boys · 55% girls
Arlyn
“a solemn, binding promise” · “an oath; a pledge”
24% boys · 76% girls