Marla is a short form of Marlene, the German blend of Maria and Magdalene, and so carries the meaning "woman from Magdala" after Mary Magdalene. It had its American heyday in the 1950s and 1960s and is remembered from Marla Singer in Fight Club and the entertainer Marla Gibbs. Marla ranked number 1567 in 2000, its best year this century, and sits at number 2055 in 2025.