A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Carlena since 1910
Babies named Carlena per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 40 |
| 1920s | 70 |
| 1930s | 62 |
| 1940s | 90 |
| 1950s | 111 |
| 1960s | 191 |
| 1970s | 227 |
| 1980s | 207 |
| 1990s | 174 |
| 2000s | 125 |
| 2010s | 97 |
| 2020s | 32 |
Meaning & origin
Carlena is a rare but enduring feminine name first recorded in U.S. data in 1910. It reached its peak popularity in 1975, a time when many elaborations of masculine names (like Charlene or Darlene) were fashionable. After declining for decades, the name has been rising again since 2022, a trajectory shared by many vintage 'ena' names. Today, with a rank of 10,917 and a frequency of 1 in 200,908 births, Carlena remains a distinctive choice with a classic sound. Its top states are not concentrated, suggesting broad but light use across the country.
Carlena is a feminine elaboration of Carl, derived from the Germanic element 'karl' meaning 'free man'. As a given name, Carl was introduced to England by the Normans and later reinforced by German settlers. Carlena likely emerged in the English-speaking world in the 19th or early 20th century as a variant of Carla or Caroline, adding the popular '-ena' suffix seen in names like Helena or Serena.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carly, Lena, Carla
Sibling names for Carlena
Names that share Carlena's style, for a brother or sister.
