♀ Female◎ English / German / Germanic◈ 2 syllables
"Rebellious Woman From Magdala"
From English / German / Germanic
Marlene means bitter grace or star of the sea — blending Maria (beloved/bitter) with Magdalene (from Magdala). Marlene Dietrich was the most glamorous and mysterious movie star — she defied Hitler and became an American hero. The name sounds like a Berlin cabaret in a fur coat. Three syllables of Dietrich-level glamour, anti-Nazi courage, and the most mysteriously magnetic movie star.
Marlene Dietrich defied Hitler and became an American hero.
She was the most glamorous and mysterious movie star.
Three syllables with a sultry, European sound: mar-LEH-neh.
The meaning bitter grace carries Maria-Magdalene heritage.
The name sounds like a Berlin cabaret.
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The vibe of Marlene
bitter gracestar of the seaMariaMagdaleneDietrichBerlin cabaretanti-Naziglamour
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Origin & history of Marlene
Hebrew Maria + Magdalene→compound Marlene
1
English / German / Germanic roots
Marlene blends Maria with Magdalene. Marlene Dietrich was the most glamorous movie star — she defied Hitler and became an American hero. The name sounds like a Berlin cabaret.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: German compound; Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992).
3
Today
Marlene remains a beloved choice, ranking #1365 in the US. 130,755 babies have been named Marlene since 1904.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Marlene?
1936peak year
Today, Marlene is rarely chosen — ranked well outside the top 1,000 (around #1365), with only about 170 babies given the name per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1936, 5,332 babies were given the name (ranked #39 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 1930s. Marlene's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 130,755 babies have been registered as Marlene since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Marlene's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — anti-Nazi leadership. People named Marlene tend to be glamorous, courageous, and gifted at defying dictators while wearing fur.
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