Given name
Carlena
“a free woman”
Carlena is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carlena is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1910. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,426
- 0 boys · 1,426 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 42 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,132 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,132 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 42 in 1975. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,097 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.
Carlena’s family of names
Carlena 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 Carlena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karena
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carmelita
“garden” · “of the fruitful orchard”
>99% girls
Kina
“woman of China”
>99% girls
Katrina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Corinna
“a spear-wielding woman”
>99% girls
Cari
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
18% boys · 82% girls
Marlena
Marlena is a feminine given name. It is used in English, Polish, Catalan, and Faroese.
>99% girls
Sakinah
“a beloved friend” · “having God-inspired peace of mind”
>99% girls