Declining since 1993.
Popularity of Carleen since 1908
Babies named Carleen per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Carleen's real moment was 1949.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 11 |
| 1910s | 111 |
| 1920s | 294 |
| 1930s | 637 |
| 1940s | 1,055 |
| 1950s | 1,498 |
| 1960s | 1,329 |
| 1970s | 752 |
| 1980s | 437 |
| 1990s | 370 |
| 2000s | 157 |
| 2010s | 79 |
| 2020s | 14 |
Meaning & origin
Carleen is a feminine given name that saw its greatest popularity in the mid-20th century. First recorded in the United States in 1908, it reached its peak rank in the top 1,000 names for girls in 1949. Since 1993, its usage has steadily declined, reflecting broader naming trends away from the "leen" suffix. The name is a variant of Carlene, which is a feminine form of Carl, derived from the Germanic word for "free man." Although its early 20th-century rise was modest, Carleen enjoyed a brief period of relative frequency during the 1940s, largely within English-speaking communities. Its trajectory has been falling for over three decades, and it is now uncommon among newborns.
Carleen is a variant of Carlene, itself a feminine form of Carl, which derives from the Germanic element karl meaning "free man." The name emerged in the English-speaking world in the late 19th century, often used as a feminization of Charles or Carl. It saw peak popularity in the United States in 1949, when it ranked among the top 1,000 names for girls, but has since declined in use.
Where Carleen 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: Carrie, Lena, Carly
Sibling names for Carleen
Names that share Carleen's style, for a brother or sister.
