Holding steady, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Allene since 1881
Babies named Allene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Allene's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 59 |
| 1890s | 211 |
| 1900s | 470 |
| 1910s | 1,694 |
| 1920s | 2,505 |
| 1930s | 1,531 |
| 1940s | 930 |
| 1950s | 591 |
| 1960s | 273 |
| 1970s | 141 |
| 1980s | 96 |
| 1990s | 111 |
| 2000s | 93 |
| 2010s | 45 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Allene is a name that enjoyed its peak popularity in the early 20th century, hitting its highest rank in 1912. Since then, its usage has steadily declined, and it has become quite rare, with a current 1-in-229,610 occurrence rate as of 2025. The name's trajectory is stable, indicating it remains in occasional but infrequent use. While its exact origins are debated, Allene is likely a creative variant of names like Alene or Eileen, reflecting the late 1800s trend of embellishing established names. It has not seen a revival in recent decades.
Allene likely emerged in the late 19th century as a creative spelling variant of Alene (itself a form of Helen) or as a feminine elaboration of Allen, from the Gaelic 'ailín' meaning 'little rock.' It may also have been influenced by the Irish name Eileen. Allene saw modest use in the early 20th century, peaking in 1912.
Where Allene is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lena, Allie, Lenny
Sibling names for Allene
Names that share Allene's style, for a brother or sister.
