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Marlowe

Girl name · 40 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Marlowe: 40 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 10 births in 2025.

Marlowe began as an English surname, derived from the Old English elements *mere* (lake) and *leah* (woodland clearing), together meaning "driftwood" or "lake meadow." The name is most famously linked to Christopher Marlowe, the brilliant Elizabethan playwright and poet who paved the way for Shakespeare. Equally iconic is Philip Marlowe, the hardboiled detective created by Raymond Chandler, whose name has become synonymous with noir fiction. Though not tied to a specific place, the surname's topographical roots echo across many English lake-dotted landscapes. Today, Marlowe is a stylish unisex choice, blending literary gravitas with a modern, melodic feel—a name that carries both creative fire and a sense of mystery.