The first name Arlene

In 2025, 3 girls were named Arlene, making it the 5,927th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 5 births (#4,103).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Arlene with other names.

In 2025, 127 girls born in the United States were named Arlene, the 1,632nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1934, when 3,917 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Spelled Arlene in Portuguese too.

• Arlene Dahl
  American actress (1925–2021)
• Arlene Foster
  British politician (born 1970)
• Arlene Francis
  American actress and television host (1907–2001)
• Arlene Martel
  American writer, actress and acting coach (1936–2014)
• Arlene Golonka
  Actress (1936–2021)
• Arlene Boxall
  Field hockey player, born 1961
• Arlene Harris
  Canadian-born American radio, film, and television actress (1896-1976)
• Arlene Saunders
  American singer (1930-2020)
• Arlene Howell
  American actress, born 1939
• Arlene Raven
  American art historian, 1944–2006
• Arlene Sanford
  Film director, television director, born 1950
• Arlene McQuade
  American actress (1936-2014)

What does the name Arlene mean?

A nineteenth-century coinage probably based on similar-sounding names such as Charlene and Arlette.

How popular is the name Arlene?

In 2025, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Arlene, ranking 5,927th. Its peak was 2015, with 5 births.

Is Arlene a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 143,371 US babies named Arlene since 1880 were girls.

When was Arlene most popular?

1934 in the United States, when 3,917 babies were named Arlene, its highest rank at 53rd.

What are other spellings of Arlene?

Arleen, Arline and Arlena.