Marvel
Marvel is both a surname and a given name. Notable people and characters with the name include:
- English
Meaning & Origin of Marvel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Marvel is both a surname and a given name. Notable people and characters with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Marvel
As a girl name
American parents first put Marvel on the record books as a girl name in 1889, with 9 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1929, when 171 Marvels were born — ranking #519 that year. About 26% of every Marvel on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Marvel ranks #7,824 for girls with 13 births, falling sharply (-34%). All told, over 5K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Marvel as a boy name dates back to 1907, when 5 babies received it. 2019 was its biggest year on record, with 32 newborns named Marvel — #3,494 in the national rankings. As of 2026, Marvel ranks #5,127 for boys with 19 births, gradually falling (-14%). All told, over 1K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1900s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Marvel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Marvel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Marvel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Marvel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Marvel
What does the name Marvel mean?
What is the origin of the name Marvel?
How popular is Marvel in 2026?
When was Marvel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Marvel most popular?
Is Marvel a unisex name?
What names go well with Marvel?
What are nicknames or variants of Marvel?
About the name Marvel
Marvel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1889 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Marvel's peak popularity came in 1929 when it ranked #480. Use the chart and map above to compare Marvel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1929 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.