Declining since 1994.
Popularity of Karlene since 1913
Babies named Karlene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Karlene's real moment was 1939.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 87 |
| 1930s | 408 |
| 1940s | 741 |
| 1950s | 853 |
| 1960s | 798 |
| 1970s | 372 |
| 1980s | 344 |
| 1990s | 255 |
| 2000s | 176 |
| 2010s | 71 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Karlene is a feminine given name that saw its highest popularity in the United States in 1939, the peak year with the most births recorded. Since then, its use has declined, with a noticeable downward trajectory beginning around 1994. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1913, placing it among the wave of feminine -ene variants popular in the early to mid-20th century. While Karlene has not been widespread in recent decades, its sound and structure remain recognizable through similar names like Darlene and Marlene. The name has not been strongly associated with any single region or state, as its top-state list is empty.
Karlene is a modern feminine variant of Carl, itself an English form of Charles. The name Charles derives from the Germanic element *karlaz* meaning 'free man'. Karlene emerged in the early 20th century, first recorded in the United States in 1913, following a trend of creating feminine forms by adding the suffix -ene.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Karly, Karli, Lena
Sibling names for Karlene
Names that share Karlene's style, for a brother or sister.
