Marlene

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly bitter or rebellious
Origin: Hebrew — From Maria, the first part of this double name

Meaning: Woman from Magdala
Origin: Aramaic — From Magdalene, the second part of this double name

Girl's name · #1268 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Marlene reached #39 back in 1935; about 131,000 girls have carried it since 1904.

In a single year its births jumped from about 310 in 1930 to 2,600 in 1931 — the year after Marlene Dietrich’s Hollywood breakthrough in Morocco.

Across the states

See where Marlene is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 13 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Marlene ranks in other countries and regions.

#48 in Austria (2025) · #279 in Mexico (2024) · #517 in Norway (2025) · #536 in Italy (2024) · #1,033 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,663 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,282 in Canada (2025) · #4,867 in England & Wales (2025) · #5,858 in France (2025) · #2,300 in Sweden (2023) · #876 in Ireland (2014) · #1,175 in Slovakia (2013) and 4 more.

Famous Marlenes

Marlene Dietrich — German and American actress (1901–1992)
Marlene Dumas — South African painter and draftsperson (born 1953)
Marlène Jobert — French actress and author (born 1940)
Marlene Favela — Mexican actress and model (born 1976)
Marlene Schmidt — German actress, TV host and beauty queen (born 1937)

In stories & tradition

Marlene McKinnon — Harry Potter (novel series)
Marlene Alraune — Fictional human character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marlène Leroy^fr — Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie (TV series)

What Marlenes become

Among 694 notable people named Marlene:

Medical professionals appear 1.88× more often than among typical names — e.g. Marlene Dobkin de Rios, American anthropologist and psychotherapist (1939–2012).

Similar names: Marlena · Arlene · Marilyn · Charlene · Neveah · Adilene

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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