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Home › Baby Names Directory › Marlena

Marlena

♀ Girl

Pronounced mar-LEH-nah /mɑrˈlɛ.nɑ/High

Meaning: Latinized form of Marlene, a blend of Maria and Magdalene — Magdalene from Magdala, 'tower'Medium

In 30 seconds: Marlene with a final flourish: Marlena rounds out the Maria-plus-Magdalene blend into three flowing syllables. Soap operas and folk songs both crowned a Marlena.
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Origin HighGerman, Latin
MeaningLatinized form of Marlene, a blend of Maria and Magdalene — Magdalene from Magdala, 'tower'
U.S. rank (2025)#2983 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births56 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1978
Total births (all-time)≈ 11,320

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197819252025

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

Marlena is the Latinate, -a-ending form of Marlene — the contraction of Maria and Magdalene (Mary of Magdala, the 'tower' town). Polish, Slavic, and Latin American naming favor the fuller Marlena, and Days of Our Lives' Marlena gave it daytime fame.

In the U.S. it is uncommon, reading as a softer, more complete Marlene. Glamour with an open final vowel.

Did you know? The Wallflowers' hit 'Sixth Avenue Heartache' immortalized a Marlene-spelling, while Days of Our Lives gave daytime TV its iconic Dr. Marlena Evans — the name lives on screen and stereo.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Marlena — blend background

Variations

MarleneMarlenMarlenna

Nicknames

MarLenaMarly

Famous Bearers

  • ★Marlena Shaw (1939-)
    American jazz and soul singer known for California Soul

If you like Marlena…

Marlene— the base form it rounds out
Magdalena— the Magdalene root behind it
Milena— a fellow Slavic -lena favorite
Marisol— a companion Hispanic Mar- name

Explore names like Marlena

By themelatinvintagegerman

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlena mean?

Marlena is a form of Marlene, a blend of Maria and Magdalene — Magdalene meaning 'of Magdala', the tower town.

How do you pronounce Marlena?

It's said mar-LEH-nah /mɑrˈlɛ.nɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Marlena a boy or girl name?

Marlena is a girl's name.

How popular is Marlena?

Marlena is an uncommon name in the U.S.

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