Charlene vs Marlene

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Charlene

Girl #1,751 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"free woman"

Origin: Germanic via French

Cultural Roots

French English South African

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,751
Total SSA Count
115
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Char, Charlie, Charli

Playground Safety Score

15 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Charlene' rhymes with 'mean'"}

Full profile for Charlene →

Marlene

Girl #1,555 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"wished-for child"

Origin: Hebrew (via Maria)

Cultural Roots

German French American English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,555
Total SSA Count
137
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Marle, Lena, Marli

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Marlene →

Popularity Comparison

Charlene Rank #1,751
Marlene Rank #1,555

Marlene is more popular, ranked #1555 vs #1751 for Charlene.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Charlene ___

  • Charlene Marie
  • Charlene Louise
  • Charlene Ann
  • Charlene Grace
  • Charlene Rose
  • Charlene Nicole

Marlene ___

  • Marlene Grace
  • Marlene Louise
  • Marlene Anne
  • Marlene Claire
  • Marlene Rose
  • Marlene Jane

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Charlene

Marlene Darlene Wayne Darren Nicole

If you choose Marlene

Ingrid Gertrude Hildegard Claus Heinrich

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charlene or Marlene more popular?

Marlene is more popular, ranked #1555 compared to Charlene at #1751 in the United States.

What do Charlene and Marlene mean?

Charlene means "free woman" (Germanic via French origin). Marlene means "wished-for child" (Hebrew (via Maria) origin).

Are Charlene and Marlene boy or girl names?

Charlene is primarily a girl name. Marlene is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Charlene ← Full profile: Marlene Browse all baby names