Marion

At a Glance

Meaning

Diminutive of Marie (female); surname-derived (US male)

Origin

Old French (fem., diminutive of Marie); English surname (masc., US)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

MARE-ee-unListen

Marion is a name with two lives: as a girl's name it began in Old French as a diminutive of Marie, and in the U.S. it has also been used for boys as a name that grew out of an English surname. It's pronounced MARE-ee-un. You may come across the claim that it means 'bitter', but that idea only borrows from the disputed Hebrew root of Mary; Marion itself is simply a diminutive of Marie, or an unrelated surname in its male use.

Meaning & Origin of Marion

Meaning: Diminutive of Marie (female); surname-derived (US male).

Origin: Old French (fem., diminutive of Marie); English surname (masc., US).

A common claim: Said to mean 'bitter' (via Mary). Actually: 'Bitter' recycles Mary's disputed Hebrew root; Marion itself is simply a diminutive of Marie (or an unrelated surname for the male use), not a direct translation.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Marion

Popularity of Marion

Marion peaked at #42 in 1922, when 5,667 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #1867, with 107 babies, so it's now a rarely heard choice.

Names Like Marion

These names have followed a similar path to Marion in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Ervin
• Lindy
• Blossom
• Lois
• Maryjane
• Merlin

FAQ

What does the name Marion mean?

Diminutive of Marie (female); surname-derived (US male). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Marion?

Marion is pronounced MARE-ee-un (IPA: /ˈmæriən/).

Is Marion a popular name right now?

Marion peaked at #42 in 1922 and is ranked #1867 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Marion Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Marion, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.