Drop of the sea; bitter; beloved
A combination of Mary and Lee, Marilee blends the traditional Hebrew roots of Mary with the English nature-inspired Lee. It rose to modest popularity in the mid-20th century as part of the trend for double-barreled names. The name carries the multifaceted meanings of its components, ranging from 'sea' and 'bitterness' to 'clearing' or 'meadow'.
Less common today
Marilee isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,926 in 1992.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Olympic bronze medalist swimmer
Academic and literary scholar
