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Home › Baby Names Directory › Marlaine

Marlaine

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Marlaine

Pronounced mar-LAYN /mɑrˈleɪn/Medium

Meaning: Marlaine is a French-looking respelling of Marlene, which began as a German blend of Maria and Magdalene, the byname of Mary Magdalene. Maria traces to the Hebrew Miriam and Magdalene means 'of Magdala', a town on the Sea of Galilee. Marlaine keeps that inherited sense while dressing the ending to rhyme with Elaine and Lorraine.Low

In 30 seconds: Marlaine is a spelling of Marlene, a German contraction of Maria Magdalene. Softly French in look, it stayed rare in America (said mar-LAYN).
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Origin MediumGerman, Hebrew
MeaningMarlaine is a French-looking respelling of Marlene, which began as a German blend of Maria and Magdalene, the byname of Mary Magdalene. Maria traces to the Hebrew Miriam and Magdalene means 'of Magdala', a town on the Sea of Galilee. Marlaine keeps that inherited sense while dressing the ending to rhyme with Elaine and Lorraine.
U.S. rank (1984)#11484 ↘ Falling
1984 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1949
Total births (all-time)≈ 361

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 194919361984

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Marlaine is a variant of Marlene, the German shortening of Maria Magdalene famously carried by Marlene Dietrich. Maria comes from the Hebrew Miriam and Magdalene points to the town of Magdala. This spelling reshapes the ending toward Elaine and Lorraine, giving the same name a more French silhouette.

In United States records the Marlaine spelling was never common, drawing only a couple of dozen girls a year around its high point in the late nineteen-forties. A girl given it then is in her seventies now. It reads as an elegant, mid-century take on a devout old blend.

Did you know? Marlaine reaches back to Mary Magdalene: Marlene fused Maria and Magdalene in German, and this spelling simply gives the old blend a Lorraine-like finish.
Overall data confidence 45%
References - Marlaine / Marlene — Variant of Marlene < Maria Magdalene

Variations

MarleneMarleenMarlainaMarline

Nicknames

MarlaLaineyMarley

Famous Bearers

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If you like Marlaine…

Marlene— the standard form this respells
Marlena— a like elaboration of the same name
Elaine— a rhyming -aine name of the era
Lorraine— another French-flavored -aine classic

Explore names like Marlaine

By themevintagevariantfrenchgerman

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlaine mean?

It is a form of Marlene, a German contraction of Maria Magdalene, tracing to Mary Magdalene.

How do you pronounce Marlaine?

It's said mar-LAYN /mɑrˈleɪn/, two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Marlaine a boy or girl name?

Marlaine is used as a girl's name.

Is Marlaine a popular name?

No, this spelling has always been rare, a mid-century variant of Marlene that peaked in the late nineteen-forties.

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