The story behind Marla
American back-formation from Marlene, first used in the 1930s.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): M AA1 R L AH0
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Marla ranked #2055 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Marla
Mara
From Hebrew מָרָא (mara, “bitterness”), derived from Hebrew מַר (mar, “bitter”). The modern given name may also be shortened from Maria or Tamara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Mica
From Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh).
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Micha
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh), whence also English Micah; see there for more information.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Mika
* (Japanese given name): Borrowed from Japanese みか (Mika). * (Hebrew given name): From Hebrew מִיכָה (mīḵāh) Borrowed from Japanese みか (Mika).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Milca
From Hebrew מלכה (milká, “Milcah”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adda
a male given name from Hebrew אדום (“red”), equivalent to English Adam
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Marla
Barnaba
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from the Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”). Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barnabas
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Aramaic בַרְנֶבֻאָה (barneḇú’â, literally “prophet's son”), from בּר (bar, “son of”) and נְבִיָּא (nəḇiyyā, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barnabáš
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Š
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Marla
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length