Marla
Girl name · #2055 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
In 2025, 92 baby girls were named Marla, placing it at #2055 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2646, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,565 girls born in 2025 was named Marla.
Babies named Marla per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 113-year story
Marla first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1955, when 1,725 girls were named Marla — good for #193 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marla in class?
Marla scores 59 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marla is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marlas were CA (12), PA (7), MI (6), WI (6), AZ (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marla
Statistically, parents drawn to Marla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Carla, Darla, Marta, Pamela, and Mona.
CarlaDarlaMartaPamelaMonaTwilaSheilaMarcia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92 | #2051 |
| 2024 | 79 | #2327 |
| 2023 | 88 | #2156 |
| 2022 | 80 | #2319 |
| 2021 | 75 | #2384 |
| 2020 | 68 | #2523 |
| 2019 | 77 | #2331 |
| 2018 | 63 | #2711 |
| 2017 | 71 | #2508 |
| 2016 | 69 | #2560 |
| 2015 | 67 | #2646 |
| 2014 | 86 | #2194 |
| 2013 | 53 | #3076 |
| 2012 | 71 | #2548 |
| 2011 | 68 | #2614 |
| 2010 | 85 | #2258 |
| 2009 | 67 | #2705 |
| 2008 | 68 | #2690 |
| 2007 | 97 | #2085 |
| 2006 | 73 | #2512 |
| 2005 | 89 | #2088 |
| 2004 | 97 | #1925 |
| 2003 | 86 | #2062 |
| 2002 | 102 | #1771 |
| 2001 | 112 | #1627 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marla a popular girl name?
Marla ranked #2055 among girls in 2025 with 92 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2646.
When was the name Marla most popular?
Marla peaked in 1955, when 1,725 American girls received the name (ranked #193 that year). Since 1955 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,565 newborn American girls was named Marla. It scores 59/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.