N
NamyLab

Carlene

female
Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Free Woman"

Carlene is an English feminine formation related to Carl and Carla, ultimately tied to a Germanic word for free person.

Themes:freewomangermanicvariant
UniqueRare

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 Carlene

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#8520Ranked in 2024

Loading chart...

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

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

Selected Year Rank
#8520

Carlene was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
+3866

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

Carlene Nicknames

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

10 ideas
Carie
Nickname
Carl
Nickname
carl
Nickname
cary
Nickname
ca
Nickname
lene
Nickname
cy
Nickname
co
Nickname
rley
Nickname
eney
Nickname

Similar Names to Carlene

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

#94
|Hebrew
female

Ashley

“Ash Tree Clearing”

#124
|English
female

Amanda

uh-MAN-duh

“Worthy of Love”

#496
|Latin
female

Amy

AY-mee

“Beloved”

#228
|French
female

Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282
|Greek
female

Alice

“Noble Kind”

#62
|Germanic
female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141
|Hebrew
female

Amber

“Amber Resin”

#541
|Arabic
female

Annie

“Grace, Favor”

#191
|Hebrew
female

Ava

AY-vuh

“Birdlike; Life”

#9
|Germanic

Baby Name Lists That Include Carlene

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

12 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Carlene mean?
Carlene means "Free Woman". Carlene is an English feminine formation related to Carl and Carla, ultimately tied to a Germanic word for free person.
What is the origin of Carlene?
Carlene is of Germanic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Carlene?
According to the latest SSA data, Carlene is currently ranked #8520 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 Carlene a girl name?
Carlene 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 Carlene?
Popular nicknames for Carlene include Carie, Carl, carl, cary, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Carlene?
There are many names similar to Carlene in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGermanic, English
Syllables2
Length7 letters
US Rank#8520
Trend↑ Rising
Starts withC

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Girl Names Like Carlene

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

Carlene appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Traditional English Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Travel And Adventure for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Carlene pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Carlene 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.