Holding steady.
Popularity of Myrlene since 1916
Babies named Myrlene per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 18 |
| 1920s | 74 |
| 1930s | 120 |
| 1940s | 92 |
| 1950s | 23 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Myrlene is a rare feminine given name that saw its greatest use in the early 20th century. According to U.S. Social Security data, it first appeared in 1916 and reached a peak in 1932, after which it declined steadily. The name has remained in sporadic use ever since, with a stable trajectory in the most recent years. Though it never ranked among the top 1000 names nationally, Myrlene was part of a trend of -ene and -line suffixed names popular in the 1930s. Today it is considered an uncommon vintage choice.
Myrlene is a 20th-century coinage, probably formed by combining the name Myrtle with the popular feminine suffix -ene. Myrtle itself comes from the Greek word myrtos, referring to the aromatic evergreen shrub sacred to Aphrodite. The name Myrtle was in use since the 19th century, and Myrlene appears to be a decorative extension that gained modest popularity in the United States around the 1920s and 1930s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Myr, Myrlie, Lena
Sibling names for Myrlene
Names that share Myrlene's style, for a brother or sister.
