Marion

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Marion

Gender: Masculine and Feminine
Language: English, French
Etymology:
Marion is diminutive form of Marie, the French form of Maria, the Latin form of a Hebrew (or Egyptian) name: Miriam, Mariamne, or Myriam. The meaning is disputed. Some suggestions include: "Wished for Child," "Bitterness," or "Drop of the Sea," or "Rebelliousness."

History:
Until recently, in France, it was common for boys to be named Marie in honor of the Virgin Mary. Its diminutive, Marion, was considered both a feminine and a masculine name as well (perhaps most famously in the case of Marion Michael Morrison, who became John Wayne). In the United States, however, Marion was soon confused with Marianne, and is far more common as a feminine name.

Marion was coined and first became common in the Middle Ages.

Please see Mary for more information.

Pronunciation: mare-ee-uhn

Alternates: Marian, Mariann, Mariana, Marianna.
French: Marianne.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
F. Marion Crawford (m., 1854-1909)
American novelist.
Marion Griffin (f., 1871-1961)
American architect.
Marion Perkins (m., 1908-1961)
American sculptor.
Marion Zimmer Bradley (f., 1930-)
American writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Marion Talbot (f., 1858-1948)
American economist.
Marion Edelman (f., 1939-)
American social activist.

Miscellaneous:
Marion Delorme (f., 1613-1650)
French courtesan.
Marion Motley (m., 1920-1999)
American football player.
Marion Jones (f., 1975-)
American athlete.

Political Figures:
Marion S. Barry, Jr. (m., 1936-)
Mayor of Washington D.C.

Scientists:
Marion King Hubbert (m., 1903-1989)
American geologist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Marion Davies (f., 1897-1961)
American actress.
Marion Michael Morrison (John Wayne) (m., 1907-1979)
American actor.
Marion Williams (f., 1927-1994)
American singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.048 % named Marion

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.122 % named Marion
0.086 % named Marian
0.042 % named Marianne
0.009 % named Mariana
0.007 % named Marianna
0.004 % named Mariann

Popularity of Marion, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 101st most popular.
1875: 110th most popular.
1900-1910: 130th most popular.
1910-1920: 118th most popular.
1920-1930: 113th most popular.
1930-1940: 138th most popular.
1940-1950: 198th most popular.
1950-1960: 269th most popular.
1960-1970: 389th most popular.
1970-1980: 499th most popular.
1980-1990: 794th most popular.
1990: 910th most popular.
1991: 916th most popular.
1992: 962nd most popular.
1994: N/A

Popularity of Marion for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 200th most popular.
1875: 199th most popular.
1900-1910: 54th most popular.
1910-1920: 48th most popular.
1920-1930: 47th most popular.
1930-1940: 89th most popular.
1940-1950: 148th most popular.
1950-1960: 238th most popular.
1960-1970: 392nd most popular.
1970-1980: 661st most popular.
1980-1990: 954th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

In France...
1900-1960: N/A
1968: 186th most popular.
1970: 172nd most popular.
1980: 48th most popular.
1990: 5th most popular.
2000: 41st most popular.