Girls' name · since 1919
Marlis
Since 1919, U.S. Social Security records show 846 babies named Marlis, peaking in 1941. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8,438 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 846
- born since 1919
- 1940s
- peak decade
Marlis is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 846 have been recorded since 1919.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Marlis has been recorded 846 times among girls since 1919, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1919 to 2001.
- #8,438 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 846 born since 1919
- 1940s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Marlis ranks #8,438 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 846 born since 1919, peaking in the 1940s.
- #8,438 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 846
- born since 1919
- 1940s
- peak decade
Marlis's 846 recorded births place it above 88.33% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by Minnesota.
Marlis's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Marlis's SSA record in two at 1948 and the more recent half accounts for 42% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 58%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1919, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1941 peak of 33, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Marlis popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1919–2001
- Peak year (1941)
- 33
- Annual births at peak, across 83 years of records
Marlis by decade
1940s is the heaviest window (244 births, 29% of the file).
1940s was Marlis's strongest decade.
244 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Marlis births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 5
1910s
5 births
- 1920s 76
1920s
76 births
- 1930s
1930s
207 births
- 1940s
1940s
244 births
- 1950s
1950s
187 births
- 1960s 75
1960s
75 births
- 1970s 29
1970s
29 births
- 1980s 18
1980s
18 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 244 births (29% of all-time use).
How Marlis compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Marlis's total volume
Marlis by state
Where Marlis concentrates geographically, total births since 1919
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Minnesota | | 97 | 11.5% |
| #2 | Iowa | | 11 | 1.3% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 11 | 1.3% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #5 | South Dakota | | 5 | 0.6% |
97 of 846 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Marlis? ▼
Where does Marlis sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Marlis most popular? ▼
Where is Marlis most popular? ▼
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What to do with Marlis's data
- Marlis's decade-level peak was the 1940s (244 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Minnesota records the most Marliss (97 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Minnesota names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Marlis
Nearby Names Like Marlis
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Marlis
Compare Marlis side by side: Marlis vs Mary Marlis vs Margaret Marlis vs Maria
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Marlis: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1941)
Similar record span (~82 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1919–2001 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Marlis draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.