Marlene
Girl name · #1264 in 2025 · Uniqueness 55/100
In 2025, 177 baby girls were named Marlene, placing it at #1264 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1167, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,169 girls born in 2025 was named Marlene.
The 121-year story
Marlene first appears in the Social Security records in 1904, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1936, when 5,332 girls were named Marlene — good for #39 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marlene per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marlene against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marlene in class?
Marlene scores 55 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marlene is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marlene is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marlenes were CA (37), TX (18), AZ (10), OH (10), PA (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marlene
Statistically, parents drawn to Marlene tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arlene, Irene, Charlene, Roxanne, and Darlene.
ArleneIreneCharleneRoxanneDarleneHeleneLorraineMaryann
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marlene | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 177 | #1261 |
| 2024 | 137 | #1553 |
| 2023 | 167 | #1348 |
| 2022 | 191 | #1256 |
| 2021 | 141 | #1498 |
| 2020 | 135 | #1559 |
| 2019 | 160 | #1406 |
| 2018 | 163 | #1378 |
| 2017 | 194 | #1233 |
| 2016 | 199 | #1229 |
| 2015 | 216 | #1167 |
| 2014 | 211 | #1164 |
| 2013 | 230 | #1073 |
| 2012 | 257 | #978 |
| 2011 | 299 | #873 |
| 2010 | 293 | #901 |
| 2009 | 392 | #739 |
| 2008 | 491 | #628 |
| 2007 | 591 | #528 |
| 2006 | 591 | #515 |
| 2005 | 537 | #538 |
| 2004 | 606 | #485 |
| 2003 | 559 | #513 |
| 2002 | 510 | #538 |
| 2001 | 487 | #544 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marlene a popular girl name?
Marlene ranked #1264 among girls in 2025 with 177 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1167.
When was the name Marlene most popular?
Marlene peaked in 1936, when 5,332 American girls received the name (ranked #39 that year). Since 1936 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marlene?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,169 newborn American girls was named Marlene. It scores 55/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.