Holding steady.
Popularity of Irlene since 1899
Babies named Irlene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Irlene's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 17 |
| 1920s | 42 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 14 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Irlene is a rare girls' name that first appeared in the United States in 1899, a year that marks its peak usage as well. Despite its early 20th-century origins, it has never ranked among the top 1,000 names in any subsequent year, and its trajectory remains stable at extremely low usage. The name likely emerged as a feminine variant of Irl or as a creative elaboration using the popular -ene suffix, similar to sister names like Arlene and Darlene. Given its scarcity and lack of clear etymology, Irlene remains a distinctive choice with no recorded top state concentrations.
Irlene first appeared in the late 19th century in the United States, likely as a feminine elaboration of the name Irl or an invented name combining a fashionable suffix. Its early use, including a recorded instance in 1899, suggests a modern coinage rather than a name with ancient roots.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Irlie, Lena
Sibling names for Irlene
Names that share Irlene's style, for a brother or sister.
