Marlene

Marlene is a female first name that originates from the names Maria and Magdalena, with the short forms Lena or Lene being used.

What does the name Marlene mean?

The name Marlene is a fusion of the first names Maria and Magdalena. This combination refers to the biblical figure Mary Magdalene, known as a faithful disciple of Jesus and originating from Magdala by the Sea of Galilee. In the New Testament, she is originally referred to as María Magdalené, which led to the Latinized form Maria Magdalena and eventually to the German form Maria aus Magdala. The meaning of Marlene combines the meanings of the individual names Maria and Magdalena, although their exact meanings are not fully clarified. Maria likely has Hebrew roots and could mean "the beloved," "the gift from God," "the well-nourished," "the sea drop," or "the untamed." Magdalena refers to the place Magdala and thus means "the one who comes from Magdala." The place name is associated with the Hebrew word for "tower," which is why it is also interpreted as "the exalted one." The popularity of the name Marlene was significantly influenced by the actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), whose full name was Marie Magdalene Dietrich. Her success in Hollywood in the 1930s led to the name Marlene becoming widespread both in Germany and in the USA – even more so in the USA than in Germany. In Germany, the name only gained popularity from the 1980s onwards and has since continuously improved in the baby name rankings. Today, Marlene is among the most sought-after girl names in Germany, followed by variants like Marla, Marleen, Marlena, and Marlen.

Where does the name Marlene come from?

The name Marlene has its roots in Ancient Hebrew and carries meanings like "the beloved" or "the exalted one." The composition comes from the names Maria and Magdalena, with Maria possibly originating from Egyptian and Ancient Hebrew, where mry means "beloved" or mir means "bitter," and jam means "sea" or mra means "to fatten." Magdalena, on the other hand, derives from the Hebrew word migdal for "tower." The name can be found in various languages such as Old High German, Biblical, German, English, and French.

How do you pronounce Marlene?

The pronunciation of the name Marlene is soft and melodic. In German, it is typically pronounced as "Mar-le-ne" [maʁˈleːnə], with the emphasis on the middle syllable with a long "e." The gentle ending on "-ne" gives the name an elegant touch. Marlene radiates a classic and stylish aura that feels calm, harmonious, and present.

When is the name day of Marlene?

The name day for Marlene is celebrated on July 22, in honor of Mary Magdalene.

Popularity

In Germany, Marlene is among the most popular first names. It currently ranks 56th on the list of the most common female baby names. The highest ranking Marlene achieved was 27th place in 2015. Over the last ten years, the name has been given around 16,300 times, which places it 38th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 34th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ene / LeLe / Lena / Lenchen / Lene / Leni / Lenichen / Lenni / Lola / Lolli / Luna / Lèn / Ma / Maaarlene / Maili / Male / Mali / Malis / Malle / Maluscha / Maly / Manschi / Mare / Mari / Mariandl / Marla / Marle / Marlen / Marlenchen / Marleni / Marlenske / Marlenski / Marlentschi / Marletschick / Marley / Marleyn / Marli / Marlibu / Marlie / Marlo / Marlooni / Marlue / Marly / Me / Meme / Mene / Merle / Miley / Moerlen / Morle / Nene / Parlene

Similar first names

Famous people

• Marlene Ahrens (Chilean athlete)
• Marlene Belley (Canadian poet)
• Marlène Charell (Angela Miebs), German dancer, singer, and presenter
• Marlene Charell (German dancer)
• Marlene Clark (American actress)
• Marlene Creates (artist from Canada)
• Marlene de Andrade (actress from Venezuela)
• Marlene Dietrich (actress)
• Marlene Dumas (painter from South Africa)
• Marlene Elejarde (Cuban athlete)
• Marlene Esser (German television presenter)
• Marlene Infante (Cuban fencer)
• Marlene Jablonski (German writer)
• Marlene Jobert (actress from France)
• Marlene Kowalik (German footballer)
• Marlene Lufen (journalist and presenter)
• Marlene Marlow (actress)
• Marlene Matthews (Australian sprinter)
• Marlene McKinnon (character from Harry Potter - friend of the Marauders)
• Marlene Meyer (American film producer)