Carlene
Girl name · English · German · Scandinavian
Meaningfree · English form of Caroline
- US rank
- #14,942
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #378 in 1936
5 babies were named Carlene in the US in 2025. It has dropped 6,536 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1895–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Carlene you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 322,581 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Carlene, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Carlene would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryCarlene first shows up in US birth records in 1895, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 130 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1936, when it ranked #378. Today it's #14,942, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowCarlene was 15× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 22,124 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 322,581.
- TrendCarlene has slipped 6,536 places over the last five years and now sits at #14,942. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningCarlene is an English form of Caroline, which means “free”. Our records link it to English, German and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Carlene
Carlene is a girl name of English, German and Scandinavian origin meaning “free”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-ene”. US birth records list Carlene for girls from 1895 to 2025, in 122 of those 131 years. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked #378 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #14,942, with 5 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 4.3 | 233,645 girls |
| 1900s | 13 | 79,491 girls |
| 1910s | 35 | 28,563 girls |
| 1920s | 71 | 14,110 girls |
| 1930s | 214 | 4,682 girls |
| 1940s | 212 | 4,715 girls |
| 1950s | 172 | 5,814 girls |
| 1960s | 129 | 7,730 girls |
| 1970s | 66 | 15,135 girls |
| 1980s | 46 | 21,716 girls |
| 1990s | 32 | 31,153 girls |
| 2000s | 22 | 45,331 girls |
| 2010s | 10 | 95,602 girls |
| 2020s | 6.1 | 162,602 girls |
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Carlene
What does the name Carlene mean?
Carlene means “free” in English, as a form of Caroline.
What is the origin of the name Carlene?
Carlene has English, German, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Carlene a boy or girl name?
Carlene is a girl name.
How popular is the name Carlene?
Carlene ranked #14,942 for US girls in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1936 (#378).