Holding steady.
Popularity of Darlena since 1920
Babies named Darlena per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 10 |
| 1930s | 81 |
| 1940s | 194 |
| 1950s | 331 |
| 1960s | 412 |
| 1970s | 209 |
| 1980s | 147 |
| 1990s | 105 |
| 2000s | 34 |
| 2010s | 13 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Darlena first appeared in U.S. birth records in the 1920s and saw its highest level of use in 1964, when it reached its peak popularity. Since that peak year, usage has declined sharply, and by the 2020s it fell off the ranked list entirely. The name's trajectory has been stable in recent decades, remaining extremely rare. Its origins are modern and creative, combining elements of the more common Darlene with Lena. While it never reached the top positions, Darlena saw moderate success during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1960s when it was given to a few hundred girls each year.
Darlena likely emerged in the early 20th century as a blend of the names Darlene and Lena. Darlene itself is a modern coinage from the 19th century, possibly inspired by the word 'darling'. Lena is a short form of names like Helena or Magdalena. The combination gained modest use in the United States during the mid-1900s, peaking in the 1960s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lena, Darla
Variants: Darlina
Sibling names for Darlena
Names that share Darlena's style, for a brother or sister.
