Given name & surname
Marlen
“resembling a little hawk”
Marlen is a variant of Marlon. One English interpretation is “resembling a little hawk.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Marlen is a variant of Marlon. One English interpretation is “resembling a little hawk.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Marlen is a variant of Marlon. A possible origin is French, although the derivation remains uncertain. Marlen is a variant of Marlene. An origin associated with Marlene is German.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Marlen is a short form of Marlene.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Marlen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,438
- 926 boys · 5,512 girls
- Most popular year
- 2003
- 272 babies
- 2025
- 48
- #3,626 for girls · #11,514 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −17%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 5% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 42 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,626 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 18.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 263 in 2007. It also appeared in 6 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,077 as a first name in 2020; 140 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Marlen’s family of names
In German usage, Marlen is a short form of Marlene. Marlen has a related form in Marlon. Marlen has a related form in Marlene.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Marlen
- Marlen KhutsievSoviet film director, screenwriter (1925-2019)
- Marlen ReusserSwiss cyclistborn 1991
- Marlen EsparzaAmerican boxerborn 1989
- Marlain AngelidesGreek singerborn 1978
- Marlen ZmorkaUkrainian bicycle racerborn 1993
- Marlen SpindlerRussian artist (1931-2003)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Marlen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Ayleen
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>99% girls