Marlene
Marlene is a girls' name of German origin meaning “of Magdala, bitter grace.”
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how do you pronounce Marlene?
mar-LAY-nuh
where does the name Marlene come from?
A blend of Maria with Lene, a short form of Magdalene or Helene. Its most famous bearer, Marlene Dietrich, was born Maria Magdalene Dietrich.
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.
how popular is this name?
Marlene has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 92 years since 1920, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #39 in 1935, and ranked #978 in 2012.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2012 | #978 |
| 2011 | #873 |
| 2010 | #901 |
| 2009 | #739 |
| 2008 | #628 |
| 2007 | #528 |
| 2006 | #515 |
| 2005 | #538 |
| 2004 | #485 |
| 2003 | #513 |
| 2000 | #512 |
| 1990 | #391 |
| 1980 | #478 |
| 1970 | #316 |
| 1960 | #208 |
| 1950 | #112 |
| 1940 | #80 |
| 1935 | #39 |
| 1930 | #388 |
| 1920 | #980 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Marlene fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Marlene
The song Lili Marlene brought the name wider use in the 1940s. The traditional German pronunciation is mar-LAY-nuh, and in North America mar-LEEN.
who are famous people named Marlene?
- Marlene Dietrich (actress and singer)
- Marlene Dumas (South African-born artist)
what are the nicknames and variants of Marlene?
Variants around the world
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.
quick answers about Marlene
What does the name Marlene mean?
Marlene means “of Magdala, bitter grace”.
What is the origin of the name Marlene?
Marlene comes from the German naming tradition. Related forms include Marlena and Marleen.
How popular is the name Marlene?
Marlene ranked #978 in the US in 2012, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1935, at #39, and it has spent 92 years in the top 1,000 since 1920.
Is Marlene a boy or girl name?
Marlene is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Marlene?
Marlene is pronounced mar-LAY-nuh, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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