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Home › Baby Names Directory › Murlene

Murlene

♀ Girl

Pronounced mer-LEEN /mɜrˈliːn/Medium

Meaning: Murlene is most likely a variant of Marlene, itself a German blend of Maria and Magdalene, respelled around the -lene ending. It may also be an elaboration of Merle, from the French merle, 'blackbird'. The mur- spelling reflects an American pronunciation, and either parent leaves it a soft, mid-century -lene name.Low

In 30 seconds: Murlene is a variant of Marlene, or an elaboration of Merle meaning 'blackbird', used for American girls in the early twentieth century (said mer-LEEN).
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Origin LowFrench, English
MeaningMurlene is most likely a variant of Marlene, itself a German blend of Maria and Magdalene, respelled around the -lene ending. It may also be an elaboration of Merle, from the French merle, 'blackbird'. The mur- spelling reflects an American pronunciation, and either parent leaves it a soft, mid-century -lene name.
U.S. rank (1964)#7468 ↘ Falling
1964 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1931
Total births (all-time)≈ 616

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193519121964

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

Murlene is a home-grown American -lene name, part of the wave that gave Marlene, Charlene and Darlene their moment. It reads either as a respelling of Marlene, the Maria-plus-Magdalene blend made famous in the film era, or as a lengthened Merle, and its mur- opening marks it as a Southern-leaning spelling.

In United States records Murlene was always uncommon, drawing only a couple dozen girls a year even at its high around 1931 while Marlene and Charlene were better known. A girl named Murlene then belongs to a great-grandmother's generation now, her name a regional twist on a familiar -lene sound.

Did you know? Murlene's likely cousin Merle comes from the French word for a blackbird, one of the few bird-names used quietly for people.
Overall data confidence 40%
References - Murlene — Variant of Marlene (Maria+Magdalene) or elaboration of Merle (French 'blackbird')

Variations

MarleneMerleMerlene

Nicknames

MurLene

Famous Bearers

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If you like Murlene…

Marlene— the standard name this variant echoes
Charlene— a rhyming -lene name of the era
Darlene— another popular -lene coinage of the time
Merle— the shorter bird-name Murlene may elaborate

Explore names like Murlene

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Murlene mean?

It is a variant of Marlene, or an elaboration of Merle, from the French merle meaning 'blackbird'.

How do you pronounce Murlene?

It's said mer-LEEN /mɜrˈliːn/, two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Murlene a boy or girl name?

Murlene is used as a girl's name.

Is Murlene a popular name?

No, it was always rare, a variant of Marlene that saw only faint use in the early twentieth century, around the nineteen-thirties.

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