According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Marcene more than quadrupled in usage in 1920. It was the fastest-rising girl name of the year, in fact.
- 1922: 29 baby girls named Marcene
- 1921: 22 baby girls named Marcene
- 1920: 34 baby girls named Marcene
- 1919: 7 baby girls named Marcene
- 1918: 11 baby girls named Marcene
The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) data for the same window of time shows a similar uptick in usage in 1920:
- 1922: 18 people with the first name Marcene
- 1921: 20 people with the first name Marcene
- 1920: 27 people with the first name Marcene
- 1919: 6 people with the first name Marcene
- 1918: 10 people with the first name Marcene
What was behind the increase?
A silent film called The Broken Butterfly, which was released in November of 1919.
In the movie, set in rural Canada, Marcene Elliot (played by actress Pauline Starke) met and fell in love with composer Darrell Thorne (played by actor Lew Cody).
Darrell wrote a symphony named after Marcene, and traveled to New York for its premiere. While he was away, Marcene gave birth to their child.
When Darrell tried to return to Marcene, he was told that she had died, so instead he went overseas. When he finally came back to Canada, he discovered that Marcene was still alive — but “dying of a broken heart.” Marcene got to see Darrell one last time, and Darrell took the child.
The name Marcene derives from the male name Marcus, which was likely based on Mars, the name of the Roman god of war. Other female names with the same origin include Marcella, Marcelina, Marcia, Marciana, and Marcy.
What are your thoughts on the name Marcene?
Sources:
- The Broken Butterfly – TCM
- “Pauline Stark in ‘The Broken Butterfly’.” Motion Picture News 8 Nov. 1919: 3453-3454.
- Marcus – Behind the Name
- SSDI (via FamilySearch.org)
- SSA
Image: Clipping from Photoplay Magazine (Feb. 1920)
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