Given name & surname
Carlen
“a free woman”·“a free man”
Carlen is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carlen is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carlen is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carlen is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1930. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 567
- 101 boys · 466 girls
- Most popular year
- 1971
- 23 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 9 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 740 as a first name in 2020; 824 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carlen’s family of names
Carlen has a related form in Carl. Carlen has a related form in Carla.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Carlen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karena
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Cari
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
18% boys · 82% girls
Colleen
“a young peasant girl”
>99% girls
Kelli
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a warrior”
>99% girls
Joleen
“God will add”
>99% girls
Kelley
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
41% boys · 59% girls
Cami
“crooked nose”
>99% girls