Marja: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	–	–	–	–
1920s	5	1	–	#5,616
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	28	3	–	#3,789
1950s	68	7	+143%	#3,828
1960s	74	7	+9%	#3,925
1970s	111	11	+50%	#2,109
1980s	113	11	+2%	#4,241
1990s	38	4	-66%	#9,216
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#5,616

1930s

–

1940s

–

#3,789

1950s

+143%

#3,828

1960s

+9%

#3,925

1970s

111

+50%

#2,109

1980s

113

+2%

#4,241

1990s

-66%

#9,216

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Marja

Marja 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 1921, 437 American babies have been named Marja. Its peak came in 1978, when 45 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Marja stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Marja?

The median living Marja is about 47 years old; half are between 42 and 63. An estimated 400 people named Marja are alive in the United States today.

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

Marja 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	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	6	#12,320
1985	13	#5,557
1980	18	#4,241
1975	7	#7,650
1970	7	#6,771
1965	7	#5,611
1960	9	#4,654
1955	8	#4,608
1950	7	#4,587
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Marja?

The median living Marja is about 47 years old. Half of all living Marjas are between 42 and 63 years old.

How many people named Marja are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Marja are alive in the United States, based on 437 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Marja mean?

Marja is a female given name, a Finnish, Sámi and Dutch form of Mary.

How popular is the name Marja in 2025?

Marja 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 Marja?

437 babies have been named Marja in the United States since 1921, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Marja most popular?

Marja peaked in 1978, when 45 newborns received the name.

Is Marja a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Marja rising or falling?

Marja has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Marja

Marja popularity over time

The story of Marja

How old are people named Marja?

Marja year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Marja