Given name · also Germanic
Carlene
“a free woman”
Carlene is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carlene is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Carlene comes from Germanic, and ultimately from Germanic languages.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1895. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlene through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 15,225
- 0 boys · 15,225 girls
- Most popular year
- 1955
- 370 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #15,373 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −40%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 15,373 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 40.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 370 in 1955. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,283 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.
Carlene’s family of names
In English usage, Carlene has an affectionate form in Carly. Carlene has a related form in Carla. In English usage, Carlene has a related form in Karlyn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Carlene
- Carlene CarterAmerican country singer-songwriterborn 1955
- JazzAmerican professional wrestlerborn 1973
- Carlene King JohnsonAmerican model (1933–1969)
- Carlene ThompsonAmerican suspense novelistborn 1952
- Carlene Starkeybadminton playerborn 1940
- Carlene AguilarFilipina actress and beauty pageant titleholderborn 1982
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carlene, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karlotta
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Charlene
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Maureen
Maureen is used as a given name and a surname. Maureen is connected with Mary.
>99% girls
Wanda
“a wanderer”
>99% girls
Karla
“a small, strong woman” · “a free woman”
>99% girls
Frenchie
“woman from France; one who is free”
20% boys · 80% girls
Jani
“God is gracious”
4% boys · 96% girls
Mimi
Mimi is used as a given name and a surname. Mimi is connected with Maria.
>99% girls