Marleen

Marleen is the English and Dutch form of Marlene, a compound name derived from the first names Maria and Magdalena, inspired by Maria Magdalena, a disciple of Jesus Christ. The origin and meaning of the girl's name Marleen derive from the individual names Maria and Magdalena, whose meanings are not definitively established.

What does the name Marleen mean?

Marleen is the English and Dutch form of Marlene, a compound name derived from the first names Maria and Magdalena, inspired by Maria Magdalena, a disciple of Jesus Christ. The origin and meaning of the girl's name Marleen derive from the individual names Maria and Magdalena, whose meanings are not definitively established. As a variant of the Hebrew name Maria, Marleen can mean among other things 'the beloved', 'the (gift) from God', 'the well-nourished', 'the sea myrrh', 'the sea drop', but also 'the unruly' or 'the untamed'. More on the individual derivations can be found on the name page for Maria. Related to Magdalena, Marleen means 'the one from Magdala'. The meaning traces back to the birthplace of Maria Magdalena, Magdala, by the Sea of Galilee. The name Magdalena, and thus Marleen, can also be translated as 'the exalted', as the place name Magdala has its roots in the Hebrew word migdal for 'tower'. Marleen's original name Marlene became popular starting in the 1930s due to the great popularity of the German-American actress Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), who was actually named Marie Magdalene Dietrich. In the English-speaking world, the English variant Marleen emerged from the German name Marlene. However, the girl's name Marleen is now hardly used in English-speaking areas. It is particularly common in the Netherlands, but the name has also gained popularity in Germany since the turn of the millennium, with the variants Marlene and Marla being even more frequently given. Other, somewhat rarer spellings include Marlena and Marlen. The girl's name Marleen also became known through the songs Lili Marleen by Lale Andersen from 1939 and Marleen by Marianne Rosenberg from 1976.

Where does the name Marleen come from?

The etymology of Marleen is a feminine first name of ancient Hebrew origin with meanings such as 'the (gift) from God' or 'the sea myrrh' and others. Ancient Hebrew

How do you pronounce Marleen?

Sound & pronunciation of Marleen: The name Marleen is two syllables and flows softly. In German pronunciation, it is usually spoken as 'Mar-leen' [maʁˈleːn], starting with an open A sound and a rolled or aspirated r. The long E sound in the second syllable gives the name elegance. Marleen appears classic and harmonious - a name with clear structure and timeless presence.

When is the name day of Marleen?

Marleen celebrates its name day on July 22 in memory of the disciple Maria Magdalena.

Popularity

Marleen is a very popular first name in Germany. Currently, it ranks 294th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best placement was in 2006 at 157th. In the last ten years, Marleen has been given as a first name about 2,800 times, placing it 231st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 222nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Bob Marleen / Leen / Leeni / Len / Lena / Lenchen / Lene / Leni / Lenny / Malen / Malle / Malli / Mallie / Marl / Marleenchen / Marleeni / Marleni / Marley / Marli / Marlie / Marlono / Marly / Marrleen / Morle / Morleen / Märle / Mölle

Similar first names

Famous people

• Marleen Clemminck (Belgian cyclist)
• Marleen Daniels (photographer from Belgium)
• Marleen Gorris (Dutch film director)
• Marleen Lohse (actress)
• Marleen Renders (Belgian long-distance runner)
• Marleen van Iersel (Dutch volleyball player)
• Marleen van Rij (Dutch racing rower)
• Marleen Veldhuis (swimmer from the Netherlands)
• Marleen Wissink (Dutch footballer)