How to say it
MAR · lowe
ˈmɑːr.loʊ
Feminine
Marlowe
Marsh hill; driftwood
What it means
An English surname from place names meaning 'marsh hill' or 'remnants of a lake.'
Marlowe is an English surname from place names usually read as 'marsh hill' or 'land left by a drained lake.' Playwright Christopher Marlowe and detective Philip Marlowe give it literary cool, and it has turned into a stylish unisex first name leaning female. Said MAR-loh.
How to spell Marlowe
The standard spelling is Marlowe. Common variants include Marlow, Marlo, Marlow, but Marlowe is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #523 in 2025, currently #523 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A surname name; also spelled Marlow.
- Pop culture
Playwright Christopher Marlowe; detective Philip Marlowe.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Christopher Marlowe English playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era
- Philip Marlowe fictional private detective in Raymond Chandler's crime novels
Spelling variants
- Marlow
- Marlo
- Marlow
Names with the same feeling
See Marlowe from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Marlowe mean?
- An English surname from place names meaning 'marsh hill' or 'remnants of a lake.'
- What does Marlowe mean in English?
- In English, Marlowe means "Marsh hill; driftwood." Marlowe is an English surname from place names usually read as 'marsh hill' or 'land left by a drained lake.' Playwright Christopher Marlowe and detective Philip Marlowe give it literary cool, and it has turned into a stylish unisex first name leaning female. Said MAR-loh.
- How do you pronounce Marlowe?
- Marlowe is pronounced ˈmɑːr.loʊ. Say it as MAR-lowe, with the stress on the "mar" syllable.
- How do you spell Marlowe?
- The standard spelling is Marlowe. Common spelling variants include Marlow, Marlo, Marlow.
- Is Marlowe a boy or girl name?
- Marlowe is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Marlowe?
- Marlowe ranked #523 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.