Marlene - help please.

[PrammyMammy]

I have added the name Marlene to the short list but after looking online I'm not sure what the correct spelling is.

I'm saying Marlene as in Mar-lay-nah. Like in the song, Marlene on the Wall?
NOT like Mar-leen but when I looked on websites via google there are some suggesting different spellings and pronunciations.

Does anyone have any input, or know a Marlene? Thoughts?

I know one, a lovely name for a really special girl. Not a problem in our group of friends as mostly from continental Europe in some shape or form, but I think there has been some need for clarification at school. Actually, this made me laugh as DDs have an Aunty MarLEEN on DPs side, and until now I've never thought of the two names as spelled the same way (never had to write the aunty's name down, she's an aunt by close acquaintance as opposed to family). Good luck!

Everyone will say Marleen.

Marlaina?

I know a Marlena, pronounced Marlaynah and spelled with an 'a' to overcome the Marlene/ Marleen problem.

No she won't. In her sphere of family and friends, she'll be Mar-lay-na, in turn, they will speak of her to others as Mar-lay-na... And so it goes...

Anyone who pronounces it wrongly, is wrong. Plain as.

Dietrich was pronounced Mar Lay nah yeah.
The song was where I first come across the name actually, I can't remember which festival I was watching on tv, before I had any kids, but I just thought it was lovely, and the spelling was Marlene so I never ever knew any different until I made the mistake of googling it last night .
Thanks for all the replies, I'm glad to see that there are people who agree with my original thoughts. If I choose this name I will keep the spelling :)

I think lots of posters must live in very monocultural areas where all children are called Olivia and Jake There are many languages spoken where I live, so you just have to ask how a name is pronounced and then say it correctly!

Not monocultural hettienne. I just happened to know a Mar-leen once! Yes people will learn the pronounciation if they ask, but what's it like to be the person who's always asked how their name is pronounced or to constantly have people getting it wrong?

How often does someone see your name written down before they speak to you - usually I introduce myself/DS to someone verbally when we meet them. The school/class teacher only has to ask once. I really don't see the issue.

My dancing teacher was Marlane. I would pronounce Marlene as Marleen if seen but you would be introducing her with her name so people will repeat.

It is beautiful.

I know two Marlenes (one 36 and one 2!) and both pronouce it Mar-lay-nah. Both are of German descent though.

Just not Mar-leen because it sound like Myleene.

Mar-lenne.

I have to say I would say Marleen if I saw it written down but if you said it first I would pronounce it how you did.
If I had to spell it from your pronunciation I would have a guess at Marlene with an accent over the first e.

I'm not familiar with Only Fools and Horses. I know of Marlene Dietrich. I think if people have heard of Marlene Dietrich they will remember that you say the name Mar lay na. but I think most people will say it
Mar leen. I've never known anyone with this name, pronounced any way.

Its a nice name, if you want to call her mar lay na I would spell the name Marlene because no other spelling looks correct.

Most people in the UK will pronounce it Mar-leen. I'm familiar with Only Fools and Horses and Ms Dietrich. Only Fools may not be as impressive a cultural reference but it's certainly a more widely known one, the show will be repeated until the end of time so I wouldn't expect that connection to die anytime soon. Lots of people will love testing out their best Boycie impression.

The German Mar-lay-nuh pronunciation is lovely, you just need to decide if it's worth the hassle of her having to spend a chunk of her life correcting people.

People will get used to it the way they are introduced to the name.

No more different that So Fee ah and So Phi ah

I see Marlene and I hear Mar Ley neh but I am originally Danish..

I would pronounce how I was told to.

I would have to ask you how to pronounce it. I immediately thought like Marlene (from OFAH) or like Dietrich? I am familiar with both. I'm 30 and grew up watching OFAH, who could forget the Batman and Robin episode? The fact is a lot of the kids that I've taught recently were allowed to watch the (never ending) repeats on Sky and unfortunately more people, especially young people (in my experience, school/youth theatre) have heard of Mar-leen from OFAH than Marlene Dietrich (sometimes she comes up when kids study the war) or the Marlene on the wall song... I wouldn't let this put you off, if you like the name, use it and just correct people when they say it wrong.

What a beautiful and unusual name. :)

Lily Marlene

I would say Mar -lay-nah

I know a Marlene of German descent and she pronounces it Mar-lay-nah. But almost everyone who sees it written down (rather than her introducing herself) calls her Mar-leen first time round.

Only fools
Marleeeeen

(I'm 22 so it was before my time but I don't know anyone my age who hasn't seen it and I imagine their/my children will see it too)

Malane is a nice name the way you want it pronounced it's just you would need to alter the spelling unless you're ok with correcting everyone/her correcting everyone for the rest of her life!

Thank you.
I wrote it down and asked some friends how they would pronounce it.
I had more Mar-lay-nuhs than marleens.

One friend I asked has two daughters with Irish spelt names, so she totally got where I was coming from, but she also had a work mate with the name Marlene. I asked some older ladies & my own granny who said Marlene also.
When I said the name and then asked my sister how she would spell it she didn't have a clue.

If I do use the name. I won't be changing the spelling. I don't like names where the spelling has been modernised (franki/holli/shawn etc).

I've still 4 weeks to go so and my bump might even be a boy.

I have never heard it pronounced other than Mar-lay-na like Dietrich.

Could you not make it a little clearer by adding an accent to stress the soft E, as in fête?