Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1948

Marilou

Meaning A female given name from French Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

A female given name from French.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Marilou
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1948
90 babies
All-time total
3,231
#3,434 all-time among girls
First recorded
1915
in Social Security records

Marilou popularity over time

3,231 babies have been named Marilou since 1915, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1933Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 64 6 – #1,788
1920s 376 38 +488% #812
1930s 618 62 +64% #778
1940s 729 73 +18% #872
1950s 697 70 -4% #1,020
1960s 295 30 -58% #1,450
1970s 143 14 -52% #2,902
1980s 106 11 -26% #4,376
1990s 81 8 -24% #5,441
2000s 47 5 -42% #9,986
2010s 43 4 -9% #11,121
2020s (to 2025) 32 5 +24% #11,756

The story of Marilou

Marilou is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1915, 3,231 American babies have been named Marilou. Its peak came in 1948, when 90 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Marilou stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Marilou?

The median living Marilou is about 71 years old; half are between 58 and 78. An estimated 1,900 people named Marilou are alive in the United States today.

median 71 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Marilou year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 8 #11,773
2023 6 #14,544
2022 5 #16,852
2021 5 #16,827
2020 8 #11,756
2019 5 #17,125
2018 9 #11,121
2017 5 #17,516
2016 5 #17,906
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 8 #12,741
2012 6 #16,185
2011 5 #18,554
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 8 #13,366
2007 6 #16,828
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 8 #12,337
2003 – –
2002 10 #9,986
2001 7 #12,942
2000 8 #11,408
1995 8 #10,160
1990 17 #5,441
1985 18 #4,376
1980 14 #5,134
1975 17 #3,878
1970 24 #2,902
1965 26 #2,382
1960 58 #1,450
1955 61 #1,300
1950 79 #1,032
1945 74 #878
1940 61 #921
1935 61 #889
1930 80 #792
1925 29 #1,562
1920 10 #3,259
1915 10 #2,828
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Marilou

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Marilou Berry Marilou Berry French actress, film director and screenwriter b. 1983 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Marilou, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Marilou?

The median living Marilou is about 71 years old. Half of all living Marilous are between 58 and 78 years old.

How many people named Marilou are alive today?

An estimated 1,900 people named Marilou are alive in the United States, based on 3,231 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Marilou mean?

A female given name from French.

How popular is the name Marilou in 2025?

Marilou did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Marilou?

3,231 babies have been named Marilou in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Marilou most popular?

Marilou peaked in 1948, when 90 newborns received the name.

Is Marilou a boy or girl name?

Marilou is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Marilou rising or falling?

Marilou is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Marilou?

Well-known people named Marilou include Marilou Berry (actor).

Names like Marilou

Names that sound and feel close to Marilou: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Marilou with similar names → More names starting with M →