Declining since 1991, #1,261 for girls today.
Popularity of Marlene since 1904
Babies named Marlene per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 263 |
| 1920s | 774 |
| 1930s | 37,355 |
| 1940s | 29,295 |
| 1950s | 25,251 |
| 1960s | 12,951 |
| 1970s | 5,728 |
| 1980s | 4,769 |
| 1990s | 5,716 |
| 2000s | 5,283 |
| 2010s | 2,222 |
| 2020s | 948 |
Meaning & origin
Marlene entered U.S. records in 1904 and saw its peak popularity in 1936, largely driven by the fame of actress Marlene Dietrich. The name has been in decline since 1991, falling to its current rank of 1261st in 2025, with about 1 in 9081 girls given the name. Its highest concentration is in states like Arizona, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The combination of Mary and Magdalene gives it a traditional yet modern feel, making it a distinctive choice with vintage flair.
Marlene is a modern coinage formed from the German given names Maria and Magdalene. It was popularized by the German actress Marlene Dietrich, born Marie Magdalene Dietrich in 1901. The name combines the first part of Maria with the second part of Magdalene. It gained international recognition through Dietrich's film career in the 1930s.
Where Marlene is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Marlene” around the world
Where Marlene lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Marley, Lena, Marlie
Sibling names for Marlene
Names that share Marlene's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Greta, Ingrid, Liesel, Brigitte, Anneliese, Charlene, Arleen, Arlene, Arleth, Arline, Carleen, Carlene, Charleen, Darleen, Earlene, Earline, Harleen, Jaylene, Joleen, Larraine, Marcene, Marilynn, Marlys, Nadene, Sharlene, Arlean, Arlinda, Carline, Charlean, Dalene, Darline, Darlyne, Erlene, Gaylene, Ilse, Jeanice, Joette, Joline, Karleen, Karlene, Lanelle, Lavone, Lawana, Loreen, Marleen, Marleny, Marvella, Merlene, Pauletta, Raelene, Raylene, Renate, Renay, Sharleen, Sherell, Shirleen, Shirlene, Valinda, Aleene, Arleta, Arlynn, Arlys, Arnette, Burnette, Candise, Carlen, Carlette, Charice, Charlyne, Claudene, Danise, Darlean, Darlynn, Daylene, Delmy, Doralee, Dorlene, Dyann, Fayrene, Gayleen, Genine, Harlene, Janith, Jeannene, Jerene, Jerlene, Jerline, Jillene, Jodell, Jodene, Joelene, Lajune, Larayne, Liesa, Lorriane, Marcine, Mardelle, Marlea, Marlina, Marlinda, Marlyce, Marlyne, Marlynn, Marvene, Montine, Murlene, Nadyne, Oralee, Orlene, Renette, Rogene, Ronelle, Shalene, Sharline, Sharmon, Sharona, Sherlene, Sydelle, Verlean, Verlee, Aldene, Arlethia, Arlisa, Arlita, Arloa, Arlyce, Avleen, Avonell, Carlyne, Charleene, Danene, Darleene, Darleny, Darlis, Darolyn, Dawnita, Deshae, Doylene, Earlyne, Elke, Estelene, Everlene, Faylene, Geralene, Gerlene, Gerline, Glendola, Hannelore, Illene, Jannice, Jeanenne, Jearlene, Jodeen, Jodine, Jolaine, Jolane, Jolean, Joylene, Junella, Konni, Korene, Ladene, Lorell, Lourine, Lujean, Mardee, Marlaine, Marlane, Marliss, Marshelle, Marvette, Maryl, Marylene, Norlene, Norrine, Ralene, Ronalda, Roselene, Roylene, Shelene, Shellene, Sherline, Shirlean, Taralee, Verneta, Waldine, Willean, Willodene, Yaileen, Yolander, Berlene, Earlena, Gennell, Harlean, Marnette, Nellene, Annalena, Arelene, Arleatha, Arlenne, Arleny, Arlyss, Athelene, Charmon, Claudeen, Darene, Darletta, Darlette, Darnice, Deloyce, Delrose, Deneane, Doralene, Dorleen, Gelene, Genean, Geneen, Gerene, Glennette, Haide, Hayleen, Irlene, Ivalene, Jaline, Jamice, Jenese, Jennene, Jerelene, Joleene, Karlen, Kerline, Ladelle, Leianne, Leisel, Liese, Loanne, Lonnette, Lorrene, Lurleen, Mardene, Maritta, Marshella, Marvalene, Marvelene, Marvia, Mayrene, Merleen, Pauleen, Polette, Reylene, Rolene, Roxene, Royanne, Rudean, Scharlene, Shalona, Sharlett, Sherel, Sherleen, Trease, Vanette, Veralyn, Verleen, Verlinda, Wilene, Winola
Brothers: Klaus, Hans, Dieter, Friedrich, Otto, Randal, Delane, Delvin, Jeryl, Luverne, Marlan, Bernell, Dietrich, Dwaine, Gaylon, Harlon, Jerrel, Jonell, Karlton, Lavelle, Lorenz, Lyndell, Martell, Marvis, Verlon, Derral, Dewain, Dewaine, Glendell, Jearl, Lawayne, Leondre, Lonzell, Marven, Rodd, Rodell, Wilmar, Darrelle, Dorrell, Eisen, Ferlin, Glenard, Levonne, Mandrell, Martice, Orlen, Ralf, Ranell, Reinhart, Therron, Carlens, Darrie, Deitrick, Garlon, Jermine, Jerral, Marquest, Marqueze, Marrell, Montrelle, Norlan, Rockney
Names like Marlene
Names whose popularity has moved with Marlene's over the last 50 years.
