Marlene is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Marlene means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Marlene across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Marlene has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Marlene is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning “a blend of Mary and Magdalene”. popularised by the actress Marlene Dietrich.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 130,932 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 158 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 86 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 69 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Marlene per year, United States (1904 to 2025). United States peaked in 1936 (5,354/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2006 (15/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (14/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1980 (9/yr).
Marlene has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1936, when it ranked #76 nationally (given to 5,354 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1930s.
Marilyn · Marlon · Marlin · Merlin · Marlyn · Marilynn · Marylyn · Marlena
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