Marcelle is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the masculine name Marcel, which itself is derived from the Latin word "marmor," meaning "marble." The name Marcelle is composed of the elements "Mar-" (from marble) and "-celle" (a diminutive suffix used to form feminine names). Thus, Marcelle means "little marble" or "made of marble."
The name Marcelle was particularly popular in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It became fashionable following the success of a play called "La Damnation de Faust" by French poet and dramatist Henri Berlioz, which featured a character named Marcelle. However, it has not been as widely used since the mid-20th century.
Throughout history, notable individuals with the name Marcelle include Marcelle Cahn (1895–1987), a French singer who performed under the stage name Damia; and Marcelle Auclair (1903–1996), a French violinist and teacher. These women contributed to the world of music and arts, adding to the cultural legacy associated with the name Marcelle.
Today, Marcelle is not as commonly used as it once was, but it remains a unique and historic choice for a girl's name. Parents who choose this name may appreciate its French origin and the fact that it has been carried by notable figures throughout history.
Based on the statistics provided, we can analyze the trend of the name Marcelle over time in the United States from 1894 to 2023.
The name Marcelle first appeared in the U.S. birth records in 1894 with only 5 births that year. The number of births increased slightly in the following years, reaching a peak of 177 births in 1920. This was the highest point for the name Marcelle during this period.
After 1920, the popularity of the name Marcelle started to decline significantly. Between 1925 and 1934, there were fewer than 50 births each year on average. The lowest point was reached in 1934 with only 39 births.
From the mid-1930s to the late 1960s, the number of babies named Marcelle fluctuated between 30 and 80 births per year. However, after 1972, there was a steep drop in popularity, with fewer than 50 births each year until the early 2000s.
Since then, the name Marcelle has experienced a minor resurgence, with around 10 to 20 births per year from 2008 to 2023. In recent years, there have been between 6 and 17 births annually.
In total, from 1894 to 2023, there were 5,388 babies named Marcelle born in the United States. While it was once a popular name, its popularity has since declined significantly over time.