Marlene
Marlene is a girls' name of German origin meaning “of Magdala, bitter grace.” A blend of Maria and Helene, Marlene was made legendary by Marlene Dietrich, the Berlin-born actress who became…
how do you pronounce Marlene?
mar-LAY-nuh
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Marlene mean?
The name Marlene means “of Magdala, bitter grace.” It comes from the German language tradition.
A blend of Maria and Helene, Marlene was made legendary by Marlene Dietrich, the Berlin-born actress who became Hollywood royalty. The name is inextricable from old-world glamour, smoky cabaret, and fearless individuality. It remains a classic of German feminine naming.
where does the name Marlene come from?
Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree Marlene is a blend beginning with Maria; Wiktionary describes the second element, Lene, as a short form of either Helene or Magdalene, while Wikipedia states more specifically that it combines Maria with Magdalene. Both cite Marlene Dietrich, born Maria Magdalene Dietrich, as the name's most famous bearer.
the history of Marlene
Wikipedia notes Marlene saw wider use in the 1940s thanks to the popular song "Lili Marlene," and records the traditional German pronunciation as mar-LAY-nuh alongside a North American pronunciation of mar-LEEN.
what are the nicknames and variants of Marlene?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Marlene?
- Marlene Dietrich (actress and singer)
- Marlene Dumas (South African-born artist)
what names are similar to Marlene?
what names go well with Marlene?
Sibling names that share Marlene's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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