Marion

Origin

From Old French Marion, a diminutive of Marie used in England since the Middle Ages.

Proper noun

1. .
• 1857 Charles Dickens, , Chapter 1:The name of the captain of the sloop was Captain Maryon, and therefore it was no news to hear from Mrs. Belltott, that his sister, the beautiful young unmarried English lady, was Miss Maryon. The novelty was, that her Christian name was Marion too. Marion Maryon. Many a time I have run off those two names in my thoughts, like a bit of verse. O many, and many, and many, a time.
• 1998 Jane Adams (writer) Fade to Grey: page 132:"And the name was Marion. Not Mary or Marie or anything similar? You're absolutely certain about that?" Stacey nodded. "It's not a common name," she said. "I mean I know two Maries and even a Mary though she's older than me. But Marion. I don't think I've ever met a Marion. So I know I've got it right."
2. (chiefly US) , transferred from the surname, or by folk etymology seen as a masculine form of Mary.
• 2002 Annie Proulx, That Old Ace in the Hole, ISBN 0-00-715151-9, page 81:"I spose you want to be a cattleboy," drawled the multicolored beard whose name was Carrol Day, a curiously feminine name, thought Martin, not yet acquaintanced with the bearded Marions, Fannys and Abbys of Texas who, saddled by their unthinking mothers with dainty names, built savagely masculine frames of character.

Anagrams

• A minor, A-minor, inamor, mainor, manoir, Morian, roamin', Romani