Arlene

Q: What is the origin of Arlene?

Arlene is of English origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Arlene a girl name?

Arlene is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Pledge or Promise"

Arlene is a twentieth-century name with debated origins, often linked to Irish forms and the idea of a pledge.

Themes:modernirishfemininevariant

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Arlene

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#1798Ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#1798

Arlene was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

better than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Arlene Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Arlene.

5 ideas

arle

Nickname

arly

Nickname

lene

Nickname

leny

Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Arlene

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Arlene, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

18 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Arlene mean?

Arlene means "Pledge or Promise". Arlene is a twentieth-century name with debated origins, often linked to Irish forms and the idea of a pledge.

What is the origin of Arlene?

Arlene is of English origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Arlene?

According to the latest SSA data, Arlene is currently ranked #1798 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Arlene a girl name?

Arlene is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Arlene?

Popular nicknames for Arlene include arle, ar, arly, lene, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Arlene?

There are many names similar to Arlene in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginEnglish, Irish

Syllables2

Length6 letters

US Rank#1798

Trend↑ Rising

Starts withA

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alton Al Ashley Addison Anson

Sisters

Addie Ashlee Ashleigh Audra Ashton

Explore More Girl Names Like Arlene

Arlene has English roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our English baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Arlene appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Hope and Beautiful Irish Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Unique Baby Names and Traditional English Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Arlene pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Arlene beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.