Merlene
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #721 in 1940
0 babies were named Merlene in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1913–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Merlene you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryMerlene first shows up in US birth records in 1913, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 112 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1940, when it reached #721.
About the name Merlene
Merlene is a girl name of French origin. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-ene”. US birth records list Merlene for girls from 1913 to 1984, in 66 of those 72 years. Its best year was 1940, when it ranked #721 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1984, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:French names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 | 92,470 girls |
| 1920s | 26 | 38,536 girls |
| 1930s | 65 | 15,477 girls |
| 1940s | 45 | 22,036 girls |
| 1950s | 23 | 44,170 girls |
| 1960s | 9.7 | 102,669 girls |
| 1970s | 3.4 | 295,858 girls |
| 1980s | 1.3 | 769,231 girls |
More French girl names
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Violet · violet flower
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Girl name: Ellie · possibly light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Unisex name: Avery · elf counsel
- Girl name: Eloise · possibly healthy, wide
Questions about the name Merlene
What is the origin of the name Merlene?
Merlene has French roots in our records. Other French names include Charlotte, Evelyn, Violet.
Is Merlene a boy or girl name?
Merlene is a girl name.
How popular is the name Merlene?
Merlene is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1984. It peaked at #721 in 1940.