Total births
846
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.
- 846
- total births
- 1919–2001
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that 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.
- 846 total births
- 1919–2001 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
846 girls have been named Marlis since 1919, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 2001.
- 846
- total births
- 1919–2001
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Marlis was born in this single decade.
1941
Single peak year
33 babies were named Marlis in 1941 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2001Peak year
1941
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1919
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
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% |
Minnesota share of Marlis's total US births 11.5%
Even split
97 of 846 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Marlis? ▼
846 babies have been named Marlis since 1919. It was last recorded in 2001. The peak year was 1941 with 33 births.
When was Marlis most popular? ▼
Marlis was most popular in the 1940s decade with 244 total births. The single peak year was 1941.
Where is Marlis most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Marlis are Minnesota (97 births), Iowa (11 births), Wisconsin (11 births).
How long has the name Marlis been used? ▼
Records for Marlis go back to 1919, giving 83 years of history through 2001.
What names are similar to Marlis? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mary, Margaret, Maria, Martha, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
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
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare 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
Mary Girl
#131 4,141,481 births
Margaret Girl
#119 1,264,774 births
Maria Girl
#74 566,111 births
Martha Girl
#666 551,741 births
Marie Girl
#632 540,077 births
Compare Marlis side by side: Marlis vs Mary Marlis vs Margaret Marlis vs Maria
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Marlis: Baby Name Since 1919 - 846 Births, Peak 1941." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/marlis. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 June 2026.