NameRealm
Arlene

Arlene: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“uncertain”
Origin
Unknown
Say it
ar-LEEN · 2 syllables
Used for
Girls

Origin uncertain. It may be an elaboration of Arline, a variant of Aileen/Eileen, or influenced by names beginning with Arl-. Multiple etymologies have been proposed. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.

English namesAmerican namesIrish namesModern names

How popular is Arlene?

202433.0 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Arlene in 2024111

2024 rank#1,801 girls

Peak year1934

Total US babies since 1880143,241

Arlene is steady now but far below its 1934 peak.

Names like Arlene

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Aileenbright, shining one · Irish
  • Ayleenbright, shining one · Irish
  • Ailynuncertain; often linked to Helen or Aileen · Unknown
  • Arlenfrom the hare land · English
  • Arliehare meadow · English
  • Arleenpledge · Irish
  • Arlinepledge, oath · English
  • Allenelittle rock; harmony · Irish

Arlene questions

What does the name Arlene mean?

Arlene means "uncertain". It comes from Unknown. Origin uncertain. It may be an elaboration of Arline, a variant of Aileen/Eileen, or influenced by names beginning with Arl-. Multiple etymologies have been proposed.

Is Arlene a boy or girl name?

Arlene is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Arlene?

111 US babies were named Arlene in 2024. Its peak year was 1934.

How do you pronounce Arlene?

Arlene is usually pronounced ar-LEEN.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.