Marla

The feminine first name Marla is a short form of Marlene, a compound form of the names Maria and Magdalena, which can be traced back to the disciple of Jesus Christ, Maria Magdalena. The individual names contained in Marla, Maria and Magdalena, are both presumably of Hebrew origin.

What does the name Marla mean?

The feminine first name Marla is a short form of Marlene, a compound form of the names Maria and Magdalena, which can be traced back to the disciple of Jesus Christ, Maria Magdalena. The individual names contained in Marla, Maria and Magdalena, are both presumably of Hebrew origin. However, the exact meaning is not definitively established. As a variant of Maria, Marla could mean 'the beloved', 'the (gift) given by God', 'the well-nourished', 'the sea myrrh', 'the sea drop', but also 'the unruly' or 'the untamed'. More about the individual derivations can be found on the name page for Maria. As a variant of Magdalena, Marla means 'the one from Magdala'. The meaning traces back to the birthplace of Maria Magdalena, Magdala, by the Sea of Galilee in the Holy Land. The name is also often interpreted as 'the exalted', as the place name Magdala is derived from the Hebrew word migdal meaning 'tower'. The short form Marla originally comes from the English-speaking world, specifically from the USA, where the name already spread in the 1950s as a short form of the German name Marlene and the English form Marleen. The name Marlene itself is attributed to the German-American actress Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), who was actually named Marie Magdalene Dietrich and had her breakthrough in Hollywood in the 1930s. In Germany, the first name Marla was long almost unknown. Only since the turn of the millennium has Marla been given more frequently in this country. For several years, Marla has even ranked among the most popular female first names and is given even more often than the variant Marleen. Only the original name Marlene is still more popular. Notable bearers of the name include the American singer Marla Glen and the American actresses Marla Maples and Marla Sokoloff.

Where does the name Marla come from?

Etymology Marla is a feminine first name of ancient Hebrew origin with meanings such as 'the beloved' or 'the exalted' and others.

How do you pronounce Marla?

Sound & pronunciation of Marla: The name Marla is structured as two syllables and flows softly. In German pronunciation, it is usually spoken as 'Mar-la' [ˈmaʁla], beginning with an open A sound and a rolled or aspirated r, which gives the name depth. The ending '-a' provides a bright, gentle finish. Marla appears modern yet down-to-earth - a name with a clear line and calm presence.

When is the name day of Marla?

Marla celebrates her name day on July 22 in memory of the disciple Maria Magdalena.

Popularity

Marla is a very popular first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 119th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2017 at 111th. Over the last ten years, Marla has been given about 5,700 times as a first name, placing it 125th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 126th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ma / Mail / Malar / Mali / Malibu / Malinka / Malla / Malle / Malu / Mari / Marlalein / Marlchen / Marleken / Marlena / Marlene / Marley / Marli / Marli-schmarli / Marlibu / Marlie / Marlifanti / Marlinchen / Marline / Marlinski / Marlita / Marlotta / Marlsen / Marluu / Marly / Marlz / Merle / Milli

Similar first names

Famous people

• Marla (film character from 'Alone Among Mothers')
• Marla Adams (American actress)
• Marla Blumenblatt (Austrian singer)
• Marla Boehr (Canadian model)
• Marla Boyd (actress from Australia)
• Marla English (American actress)
• Marla Frazee (American author)
• Marla Gibbs (actress from America)
• Marla Glen (singer)
• Marla Glenn (American singer)
• Marla Hanson (American model)
• Marla Heasley (American actress)
• Marla Kanelos (American author)
• Marla Landi (British actress)
• Marla Lynne Sokoloff (American actress/singer)
• Marla Mallett (English curler)
• Marla Maples (American actress)
• Marla O'Hara (American beach volleyball player)
• Marla Olmstead (artist from America)
• Marla Pennington (American actress)