Marlow

Meaning of Marlow

Marlow drifts into the baby-name pool like a polished piece of Thames driftwood—smooth, timeless, and ready for any adventure. Born from the Old English place name that roughly sketches “lake’s remnants” or “wood by the water,” this unisex charmer carries the cool mist of Buckinghamshire and a whiff of literary noir (hello, Raymond Chandler’s hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe). Yet it feels every bit Hollywood-bright, thanks to modern parents who’ve sprinkled it across Instagram nurseries in ever-growing numbers—the U.S. charts show Marlow climbing from barely a ripple in the ’80s to a lively 174 births last year. Pronounced MAR-loh—rhymes with “star-glow”—the name balances laid-back lake vibes with sharp, city sass, making it equally at home on a skateboard or inside a leather-bound novel. For families seeking something familiar yet freshly unpinned by gender, Marlow offers exactly that: a breezy, buoyant badge ready to ride life’s current in whatever direction your little explorer chooses.