Holding steady.
Popularity of Gaylene since 1931
Babies named Gaylene per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 207 |
| 1940s | 496 |
| 1950s | 896 |
| 1960s | 716 |
| 1970s | 215 |
| 1980s | 30 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gaylene is a distinctly mid-20th-century American coinage, part of a wave of names ending in -lene that were fashionable in the 1930s through 1950s. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1931 and climbed to its peak year of 1956, after which its usage steadily declined. The name never reached the top 1000 nationally, making it a rare choice that reflects a specific era of naming trends. Though it has no deep etymology, it carries the nostalgic feel of its time.
Gaylene appears to be a 20th-century coinage, likely formed by combining the name Gay (itself derived from the English word meaning 'joyful' or from the name Gail) with the popular feminine suffix -lene (seen in names like Marlene and Arlene). The name gained modest use in the United States during the mid-20th century, peaking in 1956.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gay, Lena
Sibling names for Gaylene
Names that share Gaylene's style, for a brother or sister.
