Given name & surname
Marlowe
“one who resembles driftwood”·“resembling driftwood”
Marlowe is a variant of Marlo. One English interpretation is “one who resembles driftwood.” Marlowe is a variant of Marlow. One English interpretation is “resembling driftwood.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Marlowe is a variant of Marlo. One English interpretation is “one who resembles driftwood.” Marlowe is a variant of Marlow. One English interpretation is “resembling driftwood.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Marlowe is a variant of Marlo. An origin associated with Marlo is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Marlowe through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,467
- 1,662 boys · 4,805 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 611 babies
- 2025
- 611
- #523 for girls · #3,286 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +59%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 8% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 575 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 523 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 59.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 36 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (58). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,321 as a first name in 2020; 6,312 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.
Marlowe’s family of names
Marlowe has a related form in Marlo. Marlowe has a related form in Marlow.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Marlowe
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Marlowe, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Malani
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“woman from the river” · “from the mouth of the river Roe”
20% boys · 80% girls