Marlena
Marlena is a girls' name of English origin meaning “woman from Magdala, star of the sea.”
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how do you pronounce Marlena?
mar-LAY-nah
where does the name Marlena come from?
Marlena is a variant of Marlene, a blend beginning with Maria.
Marlena is a blend of Mary and Magdalena, carrying the evocative meaning 'star of the sea' combined with the biblical Magdalene's associations with devotion and transformation. The name evokes the glamour of Marlene Dietrich (a similar form). It has a warm, continental elegance with a vintage Hollywood shimmer.
how popular is this name?
Marlena has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 31 years since 1952, and fell outside it for 16. It peaked at #430 in 1978, and ranked #941 in 1998.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1998 | #941 |
| 1997 | #971 |
| 1996 | #926 |
| 1995 | #998 |
| 1994 | #841 |
| 1993 | #805 |
| 1992 | #807 |
| 1991 | #843 |
| 1990 | #966 |
| 1989 | #887 |
| 1980 | #609 |
| 1978 | #430 |
| 1970 | #989 |
| 1952 | #983 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Marlena fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Marlena?
- Marlene Dietrich (German-American actress and singer, similar variant)
- Marlena Shaw (American jazz and R&B singer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Marlena?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Marlena?
what names go well with Marlena?
Sibling names that share Marlena's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Marlena
What does the name Marlena mean?
Marlena means “woman from Magdala, star of the sea”.
What is the origin of the name Marlena?
Marlena comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Marlene and Marleen.
How popular is the name Marlena?
Marlena ranked #941 in the US in 1998, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1978, at #430, and it has spent 31 years in the top 1,000 since 1952.
Is Marlena a boy or girl name?
Marlena is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Marlena?
Marlena is pronounced mar-LAY-nah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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