Star of the sea; bitter; or from Magdala
Marleen is a Dutch and German contraction of Maria and Magdalena. It combines the traditional Hebrew roots of Mary, often interpreted as 'star of the sea' or 'bitterness', with the place name Magdala, referring to Mary Magdalene. It gained international visibility through the mid-20th century song 'Lili Marleen'.
About 8 girls were named Marleen in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Oscar-winning Dutch writer and director
Olympic gold medalist swimmer
