Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Marlene

Marlene

♀ Girl

Pronounced mar-LAYN /mɑɹ.ˈleɪn/Medium

Meaning: Blend of Maria and Magdalena (Mary Magdalene)Medium

In 30 seconds: Marlene is a German girl's name formed as a blend of Maria and Magdalena, the two names of Mary Magdalene.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumGerman
MeaningBlend of Maria and Magdalena (Mary Magdalene)
U.S. rank (2025)#1268 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births177 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1936
Total births (all-time)≈ 130,573

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193619042025

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

The name was created by joining Maria and Magdalena, the dual name of the biblical Mary Magdalene, into a single graceful form. It took hold in German-speaking countries and spread widely from there. Its most famous bearer, actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), made it an international screen byword.

Dietrich's nearly seven-decade career, in films like The Blue Angel and Morocco, cemented the name's glamorous, old-Hollywood aura. Spellings range from the German Marlen to the Dutch-flavored Marleen and the French Marlène.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Marlene is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Marlene — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MarlenMarleenMarlenaMarileneMarlène

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992)
    German-American actress and singer whose career spanned nearly seven decades. She was an international screen icon known for films such as The Blue Angel and Morocco.

If you like Marlene…

Magdalena— one of the two names blended to create Marlene
Maria— the other half of the Maria-plus-Magdalena blend
Sabine— echoes that soft -ne sound
Marianne— echoes that soft -ne sound
Karoline— a fellow German choice

Explore names like Marlene

By themeenglishgerman

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marlene mean?

Marlene is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with German tradition.

How do you pronounce Marlene?

It's commonly said mar-LAYN /mɑɹ.ˈleɪn/.

Is Marlene a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Marlene is used as a girl name.

How popular is Marlene?

In 2024, Marlene ranked #1551 in the U.S. for girls, with 137 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia