Holding steady.
Popularity of Olene since 1898
Babies named Olene per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 7 |
| 1900s | 52 |
| 1910s | 322 |
| 1920s | 482 |
| 1930s | 286 |
| 1940s | 130 |
| 1950s | 54 |
| 1960s | 14 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Olene is a vintage diminutive that enjoyed a modest heyday in early 20th-century America. First recorded in 1898, it reached its peak rank in 1917, a time when many similar feminized endings were fashionable. The name has since become rare, maintaining a stable trajectory with very few new births each year. While not currently ranking in the top 1000, Olene appeals to parents seeking a distinctly old-fashioned name with ties to Ola or Ellen.
Olene is a diminutive form likely derived from Ola (a short form of Scandinavian names containing the element 'anu' meaning 'ancestor') or from Ellen (a variant of Helen, from Greek Helene meaning 'torch' or 'light'). It emerged in the United States in the late 19th century and saw its peak usage in the 1910s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lena, Ollie
Sibling names for Olene
Names that share Olene's style, for a brother or sister.
