Marlene Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Marlene is a German name derived from a combination of Maria and Elena, meaning beloved and light. It has evolved through historical forms such as Maria and Marlena. The name conveys traits of elegance and strength, with no direct biblical relevance. Its popularity surged in the early 20th century, influenced largely by cultural figures.
The name Marlene is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Marlene has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Marlene' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2228th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4028th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8221st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7482nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1081st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 86th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 154th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 341st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 443rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 614th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1319th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Marlene' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Marlene"
Pronunciation
/mɑːrˈliːn/
Origin
German
Etymology
The name Marlene is believed to be a combination of the names Maria and Elena. Maria has Hebrew roots, meaning 'sea of bitterness' or 'rebelliousness', while Elena is of Greek origin, meaning 'torch' or 'light'.
Meaning
combination of beloved and light
Language Evolution
Maria, Marlena, Marlene
Historical Usage
The name Marlene gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in German-speaking countries, and increased in usage due to cultural influences such as cinema and literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Marlena, Marlee, Marlene
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Marlene is perceived as a classic and elegant name, often associated with strong and independent women.
Famous People
Marlene Dietrich - a renowned German-American actress and singer., Marlene Knaus - a former model and ex-wife of racing driver Niki Lauda.
Explore More Marlene Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Marlene"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Marlene"
"Marlene" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2228th of 6773 | 206 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4028th of 7552 | 69 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8221st of 10718 | 16 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7482nd of 16616 | 68 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1081st of 9107 | 827 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 86th of 9204 | 54,973 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 154th of 12526 | 44,838 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 341st of 19264 | 11,436 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 443rd of 27321 | 8,738 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 614th of 35406 | 7,441 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1319th of 30306 | 2,143 |
Regional Popularity of "Marlene" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
55.42% 3501st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Marlene" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
50.99% 722nd/1416 |
57.22% 789th/1379 |
67.58% 1599th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
3.30% 51st/1546 |
5.40% 84th/1556 |
9.56% 225th/2353 |
3.81% 59th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.84% 130th/2227 |
5.47% 133rd/2430 |
9.22% 263rd/2853 |
5.66% 157th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
12.19% 358th/2937 |
7.44% 259th/3483 |
13.02% 458th/3518 |
6.82% 276th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
18.02% 664th/3685 |
9.92% 444th/4475 |
13.38% 695th/5194 |
4.18% 264th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
18.83% 863rd/4582 |
17.37% 897th/5164 |
10.53% 770th/7313 |
4.85% 362nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
31.83% 1268th/3984 |
32.90% 1476th/4487 |
23.88% 1629th/6822 |
15.33% 962nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Marlene"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Marlene" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.