Marlena Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Marlena is a feminine name of Latin origin, deriving from the combination of Maria and Elena. It embodies meanings related to bitterness and light. The name has evolved from its Hebrew and Greek roots to become a modern English name. It is associated with traits of elegance and charm, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Marlena is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Marlena has been too falling for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Marlena' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2019th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1214th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 761st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 825th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1616th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2524th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Marlena' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Marlena"
Pronunciation
/mɑːrˈleɪnə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
Marlena is a combination of the names Maria and Elena, with Maria deriving from the Hebrew name Miriam, meaning 'sea of bitterness' or 'rebelliousness', and Elena coming from the Greek word for 'light' or 'torch'.
Meaning
sea of bitterness, light, or torch
Language Evolution
Maria (Latin), Miriam (Hebrew), Elena (Greek), Marlena (modern English)
Historical Usage
Marlena gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a modern feminine name.
Variants & Derivatives
Marla, Marlene, Lena
Modern Popularity & Image
Marlena is often seen as a sophisticated and elegant name, evoking a sense of charm and femininity.
Famous People
Marlena Shaw (singer), Marlena dietrich (actress), Marlena Evans (fictional character from Days of Our Lives)
Explore More Marlena Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Marlena"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Marlena"
"Marlena" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2019th of 9204 | 316 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1214th of 12526 | 1,372 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 761st of 19264 | 3,023 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 825th of 27321 | 3,691 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1616th of 35406 | 2,005 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2524th of 30306 | 852 |
Regional Popularity of "Marlena" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Marlena" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
80.60% 1246th/1546 |
- | - |
100.00% 1547th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
44.77% 997th/2227 |
49.38% 1200th/2430 |
54.05% 1542nd/2853 |
38.95% 1081st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
26.08% 766th/2937 |
22.02% 767th/3483 |
21.92% 771st/3518 |
17.71% 716th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
25.37% 935th/3685 |
15.78% 706th/4475 |
17.15% 891st/5194 |
12.05% 761st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
34.90% 1599th/4582 |
24.38% 1259th/5164 |
27.83% 2035th/7313 |
20.80% 1552nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
54.82% 2184th/3984 |
43.37% 1946th/4487 |
53.61% 3657th/6822 |
41.25% 2589th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Marlena"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Marlena" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.