Marleen Girl

Popularity: #940 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mar-LEEN /mɑːrˈliːn/

Origin: Dutch; German

Meaning: Dutch: 'little Mary'; German: 'beloved'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marleen has its roots in the Dutch and Germanic linguistic traditions. It is derived from the name Marlene, which is a combination of the names Maria and Magdalene.

Maria, originating from the Hebrew name Miriam, carries meanings associated with 'bitterness' or 'rebellion,' while Magdalene refers to Mary Magdalene, a significant figure in the New Testament, known for her role as a follower of Jesus Christ. The transition from Hebrew to Greek and then to Latin and Old French reflects the name's evolution through various cultures, ultimately leading to its adoption in English-speaking contexts.

Historically, the name Marleen and its variants have been associated with notable figures and cultural milestones. The name Maria has been borne by numerous saints, including Saint Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose veneration has been prominent since the early centuries of Christianity.

The name Magdalene has also been significant in religious texts, particularly in the King James Bible published in 1611, which helped solidify the name's presence in English literature. The combination of these names into Marlene in the 19th century in German-speaking regions marked a notable point in its historical development, leading to the eventual use of Marleen as a distinct name.

Culturally, Marleen carries connotations of grace and femininity, often associated with the virtues of compassion and strength, reflecting the characteristics attributed to its biblical namesakes. The name has also been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature and music, which have contributed to its enduring resonance in cultural narratives.

The diminutive form 'Marle' may also be noted, as it reflects a softer, affectionate variant that has emerged in some cultures, further illustrating the name's adaptability and appeal across different contexts.

Famous people named Marleen

In this section, you will find notable people named Marleen. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Marleen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Marleen who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Marleen Gorris is a director and screenwriter best known for Antonia's Line, The Last Dance, and The Silver Ghost.

Marleen van der Werf is a professional cyclist best known for competing in national championships and international cycling events.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marleen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MarleneMarinaMaraMayaMireilleMabel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marleen. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MarleneMarinaMaraMayaMireilleMabelMarisMarisabelMarisol

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Marleen was first seen in the United States in 1926.

Marleen has ranked as high as #1340 nationally, which occurred in 1951, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Marleen has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Marleen is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Marleen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Marleen.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 8 8
2024 9 9
2023 11 11
2022 14 14
2021 16 16
2020 8 8
2019 14 14
2018 7 7
2017 17 17
2016 18 18
2015 17 17
2014 25 25
2013 22 22
2012 28 28
2011 23 23
2010 28 28
2009 26 26
2008 33 33
2007 80 80
2006 42 42
2005 29 29
2004 33 33
2003 27 27
2002 32 32
2001 30 30
2000 31 31
1999 34 34
1998 41 41
1997 27 27
1996 18 18
1995 24 24
1994 30 30
1993 35 35
1992 24 24
1991 27 27
1990 28 28
1989 20 20
1988 25 25
1987 19 19
1986 24 24
1985 20 20
1984 24 24
1983 17 17
1982 24 24
1981 36 36
1980 21 21
1979 25 25
1978 28 28
1977 33 33
1976 20 20
1975 25 25
1974 31 31
1973 25 25
1972 29 29
1971 40 40
1970 57 57
1969 38 38
1968 47 47
1967 33 33
1966 41 41
1965 47 47
1964 51 51
1963 62 62
1962 57 57
1961 43 43
1960 54 54
1959 43 43
1958 50 50
1957 52 52
1956 64 64
1955 99 99
1954 122 122
1953 132 132
1952 117 117
1951 133 133
1950 126 126
1949 108 108
1948 116 116
1947 103 103
1946 86 86
1945 78 78
1944 66 66
1943 81 81
1942 68 68
1941 44 44
1940 72 72
1939 85 85
1938 51 51
1937 56 56
1936 55 55
1935 47 47
1934 28 28
1933 23 23
1932 29 29
1931 24 24
1930 8 8
1929 6 6
1928 5 5
1927 6 6
1926 6 6

Top States for Marleen (2022)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%