Marian is a name of Latin origin that means "of Mars," the Roman god of war. It is derived from the male name Marius, which was quite popular among the ancient Romans and has been used by several notable historical figures such as Gaius Marius, a prominent Roman general and politician.
The name Marian began to be used as a given name for females in the Middle Ages, possibly due to its association with the Virgin Mary through her title "Mary of the Sea" (Marianum Maris). However, it was not until the 19th century that Marian became more widely accepted as a female name.
Throughout history, Marian has been associated with various notable figures. One example is Marian Anderson, an African-American contralto singer who became famous for her powerful voice and commitment to racial justice. Another notable figure is Marian Rejewski, a Polish mathematician who played a crucial role in breaking the Enigma code during World War II.
Today, Marian remains a relatively uncommon name but continues to be used by some families as a unique and meaningful choice. Its Latin origins and historical significance make it an interesting option for those looking for a name with a rich history and strong meanings.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe the trends of babies named Marian over time in the United States from 1881 to 2021.
The name Marian first appeared in the top 1000 baby names list in 1881 with only 6 births recorded that year. The following year, there were also 5 births, indicating a slight decline but still maintaining a consistent presence. In subsequent years, the number of births fluctuated between 5 and 6 until reaching a peak of 34 births in 1914.
The early 20th century saw a steady increase in popularity for the name Marian, with the highest number of births occurring consecutively from 1912 to 1919. The years 1917 and 1918 both had 37 births each, marking an all-time high for this time period.
However, after reaching this peak, the popularity of Marian began to decline gradually over the next few decades. By the mid-1930s, there were less than 20 births per year on average, and this trend continued until the late 1940s when the number of births hovered around double digits annually.
Despite some fluctuations in popularity throughout the second half of the 20th century, Marian remained relatively stable with between 5 to 15 births each year from 1950 onwards. It wasn't until recently that we see a slight uptick in popularity once again, with 7 births recorded in both 2008 and 2017, followed by another peak of 8 births in 2016.
In total, over the course of 1350 years from 1881 to 2021, there were a combined 1350 babies named Marian born in the United States. While the popularity of this name has ebbed and flowed over time, it remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a unique yet timeless option for their child's name.