Given name
Arleen
“an oath; a pledge”
In English use, Arleen is a variant of Arlene. One Irish interpretation is “an oath; a pledge.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Arleen is a variant of Arlene. One Irish interpretation is “an oath; a pledge.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Arleen is a variant of Arlene. A possible origin is Irish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1898. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Arleen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,617
- 6 boys · 12,611 girls
- Most popular year
- 1939
- 415 babies
- 2025
- 19
- #6,145 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 19 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,145 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 415 in 1939. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,620 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Arleen’s family of names
In English usage, Arleen has a related form in Arlene.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Arleen
- Arleen SorkinAmerican actress (1955–2023)
- Arleen WhelanAmerican actress (1914–1993)
- Arleen AugerAmerican soprano (1939–1993)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Arleen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arlyn
“a solemn, binding promise” · “an oath; a pledge”
24% boys · 76% girls
Marlyn
“resembling a little hawk”
4% boys · 96% girls
Asenath
“she belongs to her father”
>99% girls
Aletta
“small and winged”
>99% girls
Arla
Arla is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Harlene
“from the meadow of the hares”
>99% girls
Annetta
“grace, gracious”
>99% girls
Marleen
Marleen is a feminine given name from Hebrew. It is used in English, German, Dutch, and Estonian.
>99% girls