Arlene

Meaning: Not established
Origin: Modern coinage — Nineteenth-century coinage, probably after names such as Charlene and Arlette

Girl's name · #1632 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Arlene is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1934, when it ranked #53. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 143,000 girls since 1888, ranked #1632 today.

Across the states

See where Arlene is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 9 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Arlene ranks in other countries and regions.

#1,499 in Ecuador (2025) · #2,730 in Canada (2025) · #5,927 in England & Wales (2025) · #7,201 in Italy (2024) · #856 in Ireland (2023) · #2,051 in Austria (2023) · #3,400 in France (2006) · #473 in Puerto Rico (2003) · #627 in Scotland (2001) · #282 in New Zealand (1972).

Famous Arlenes

Arlene Dahl — American actress (1925–2021)
Arlene Francis — American actress and TV host (1907–2001)
Arlene Foster — First Minister of Northern Ireland (2016–2017, 2020–2021) (born 1970)
Arlene Martel — American writer, actress and acting coach (1936–2014)
Arlene Golonka — American actress (1936–2021)

In stories & tradition

Arlene Vaughan — All My Children (TV series)
Arlene^it — Garfield character
Arlene Shrier — Law & Order (TV series)

What Arlenes become

Among 170 notable people named Arlene:

Entertainers appear 1.93× more often than among typical names — e.g. Arlene Dahl, American actress (1925–2021).

Similar names: Marlene · Harlem · Charlene · Marilyn · Darlene · Harlynn

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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