Marlen
Marlen was the 3626th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked 918th; the most babies were born in 2007 (263). Over the last ten years it has moved down 790 places. More babies were named Marlen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Marlene) Maria + Magdalene (German) · German, Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #3,626 girls, down 705 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 42girls
- Girls and boys
- 93% girls, 7% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2007263 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,438babies recorded
What does the name Marlen mean?
Marlen is a spelling of Marlene, pronounced the same way, so it shares Marlene's meaning and origin.
Marlene is a German contraction of Maria and Magdalene, borrowed into English in the early 20th century, as Wiktionary notes; it became famous through the actress Marlene Dietrich (born Marie Magdalene) and the WWII song 'Lili Marleen'. Mary is from Hebrew Miryam, of uncertain origin, and Magdalene means 'of Magdala', a town whose name comes from a word for 'tower'.
Maria + Magdalena (German, “Mary Magdalene”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Marlena, Marleen, Magdalena, Mary.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Marlene', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Magdalene', DMNES (Durham University)
Marlen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,626 | #11,514 | 42 | 6 |
| 2020 | #2,921 | #13,354 | 56 | 5 |
| 2010 | #1,588 | #8,551 | 138 | 9 |
| 2000 | #1,000 | #9,873 | 212 | 6 |
| 1990 | #1,404 | #6,198 | 113 | 8 |
| 1980 | #2,270 | #5,298 | 44 | 7 |
| 1970 | #3,810 | #3,197 | 16 | 10 |
| 1960 | #5,504 | #3,001 | 7 | 9 |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | #2,431 | — | 10 |
| 1930 | — | #2,398 | — | 12 |
| 1920 | — | #2,891 | — | 10 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Marlen, counting every spelling?
Marlen is a spelling of Marlene, a name family that ranked #948 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,626 for Marlen on its own. Together these spellings went to 256 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlene | 177 | #1,268 | 813 |
| Marlen | 42 | #3,626 | 229 |
| Marlyn | 22 | #5,653 | 107 |
| Marleen | 8 | #11,554 | 58 |
| Marlynn | 7 | #12,713 | 28 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Marlen?
42 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Marlen (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Marlen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 200 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Marlen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Marlen?
About 5,400 people born in the US named Marlen are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 18 and 32. That makes Marlen mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Marlen by state
How common Marlen was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (2.2×), California (2.0×). In 47 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Marlen: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Marlen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Marlen
What does Marlen mean?
Marlen is a spelling of Marlene, which means “Maria + Magdalene (German)” (German, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Marlen?
Marlen was the 3626th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. Its best year was 2003, when it ranked 918th; the most babies were born in 2007 (263). Over the last ten years it has moved down 790 places. More babies were named Marlen in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Marlen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 93% girls, 7% boys given the name Marlen in the US.
Where is Marlen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Marlen was most common in Texas (0.06 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Maryland.