Carlene: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	5	1	–	#1,629
1900s	40	4	+700%	#1,146
1910s	305	31	+663%	#987
1920s	839	84	+175%	#578
1930s	2,273	227	+171%	#378
1940s	3,026	303	+33%	#380
1950s	3,302	330	+9%	#444
1960s	2,389	239	-28%	#545
1970s	1,027	103	-57%	#885
1980s	788	79	-23%	#1,301
1990s	582	58	-26%	#1,661
2000s	406	41	-30%	#2,017
2010s	183	18	-55%	#5,772
2020s (to 2025)	60	10	-45%	#7,347

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,629

1900s

+700%

#1,146

1910s

305

+663%

#987

1920s

839

+175%

#578

1930s

2,273

227

+171%

#378

1940s

3,026

303

+33%

#380

1950s

3,302

330

+9%

#444

1960s

2,389

239

-28%

#545

1970s

1,027

103

-57%

#885

1980s

788

-23%

#1,301

1990s

582

-26%

#1,661

2000s

406

-30%

#2,017

2010s

183

-55%

#5,772

2020s (to 2025)

-45%

#7,347

The story of Carlene

Carlene is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #15,373 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1895, 15,225 American babies have been named Carlene. Its peak came in 1955, when 370 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Carlene stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Carlene?

The median living Carlene is about 66 years old; half are between 53 and 76. An estimated 10 thousand people named Carlene are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Carlene year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#15,373
2024	12	#8,551
2023	7	#12,399
2022	15	#7,347
2021	9	#10,454
2020	12	#8,499
2019	14	#7,819
2018	20	#6,065
2017	16	#7,163
2016	18	#6,711
2015	17	#7,039
2014	19	#6,505
2013	18	#6,792
2012	17	#7,205
2011	23	#5,772
2010	21	#6,223
2009	32	#4,592
2008	34	#4,474
2007	31	#4,712
2006	35	#4,178
2005	38	#3,817
2004	33	#4,187
2003	38	#3,673
2002	34	#3,824
2001	49	#2,931
2000	82	#2,017
1995	59	#2,251
1990	80	#1,798
1985	77	#1,564
1980	98	#1,301
1975	86	#1,292
1970	150	#885
1965	239	#632
1960	317	#545
1955	370	#473
1950	330	#444
1945	257	#443
1940	294	#395
1935	234	#424
1930	134	#594
1925	67	#907
1920	65	#905
1915	42	#1,025
1910	9	#1,650
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	5	#1,629
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Carlene, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Carlene?

The median living Carlene is about 66 years old. Half of all living Carlenes are between 53 and 76 years old.

How many people named Carlene are alive today?

An estimated 10 thousand people named Carlene are alive in the United States, based on 15,225 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Carlene mean?

A 20th-century coinage from Carl and the ending -ene, -lene, as in Marlene and Charlene.

How popular is the name Carlene in 2025?

Carlene ranked #15,373 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Carlene?

15,225 babies have been named Carlene in the United States since 1895, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Carlene most popular?

Carlene peaked in 1955, when 370 newborns received the name.

Is Carlene a boy or girl name?

Carlene is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Carlene rising or falling?

Carlene is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Carlene

Carlene popularity over time

The story of Carlene

How old are people named Carlene?

Carlene year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Carlene