Total births
140
Boys' name · since 1942
Marv
140 babies named Marv in U.S. Social Security records since 1942, with the highest year being 1959. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 140
- total births
- 1942–1967
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
Marv is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 140 have been recorded since 1942.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Marv has been recorded 140 times among boys since 1942, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1942 to 1967.
- 140 total births
- 1942–1967 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 42% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
140 boys have been named Marv since 1942, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1967.
- 140
- total births
- 1942–1967
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Marv was born in this single decade.
1959
Single peak year
14 babies were named Marv in 1959 - its busiest year on record.
Marv's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Marv's SSA record in two at 1958 and the more recent half accounts for 61% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 39%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1942, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1959 peak of 14, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Marv at a glance
Last recorded 1967Peak year
1959
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1942
Marv popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1942–1967
- Peak year (1959)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 26 years of records
Marv by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Marv's strongest decade.
59 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Marv births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 23
1940s
23 births
- 1950s
1950s
59 births
- 1960s
1960s
58 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 59 births (42% of all-time use).
Marv by state
Where Marv concentrates geographically, total births since 1942
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Michigan | | 6 | 4.3% |
Michigan share of Marv's total US births 4.3%
6 of 140 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Marv? ▼
Since 1942, Social Security records show 140 babies named Marv. The most recent recorded year was 1967. Its busiest year on record was 1959, with 14 births.
When was Marv most popular? ▼
Marv was most popular in the 1950s decade with 59 total births. The single peak year was 1959.
Where is Marv most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Marv are Michigan (6 births).
How long has the name Marv been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Marv since 1942 -- 26 years through the most recent 1967 data.
What names are similar to Marv? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mark, Martin, Marvin, Marcus, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Marv's data
- Marv's usage has stayed within range of its 1950s decade-level peak (59 total births) through the 1960s (58) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Michigan records the most Marvs (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Michigan 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 Marv
Nearby Names Like Marv
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Marv
Mark Boy
#244 1,362,176 births
Martin Boy
#307 315,561 births
Marvin Boy
#671 254,192 births
Marcus Boy
#256 241,657 births
Mario Boy
#398 151,310 births
Compare Marv side by side: Marv vs Mark Marv vs Martin Marv vs Marvin
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, 1942–1967 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Marv: Baby Name Since 1942 - 140 Births, Peak 1959." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/marv. 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 Marv 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.