Darlene
Darlene, also spelled Darleen or Darline, is an English feminine given name coined in the late 19th century. It is based on the term of endearment darling in combination with the diminutive suffix -een, -ene, or -ine in use in other names popular during that period such as Arleen, Charlene, Claudine, Irene, Jolene, Josephine, Marlene, Maxine, and Pauline.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Darlene
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Darlene, also spelled Darleen or Darline, is an English feminine given name coined in the late 19th century. It is based on the term of endearment darling in combination with the diminutive suffix -een, -ene, or -ine in use in other names popular during that period such as Arleen, Charlene, Claudine, Irene, Jolene, Josephine, Marlene, Maxine, and Pauline.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Darlene
American parents first put Darlene on the record books as a baby girl name in 1896, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1958, when 8,279 Darlenes were born — ranking #49 that year. About 30% of every Darlene on record arrived during the 1950s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Darlene ranks #1,830 for baby girls with 110 births, gradually falling (-11%). All told, over 205K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Darlene
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Darlene. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Darlene
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Darlene (formerly known as Darlene Pekul) (born 1954), American artist and calligrapher
- Darlene Ferrin , American murder victim of the Zodiac Killer
- Darlene Berberabe (born 1967), Filipino lawyer, academic, and corporate executive
- Darlene Caamaño (born 1970), American film producer
- Darlene Cates (1947–2017), American actress
- Darlene Conley (1934–2007), American actress
- Darlene de Souza (born 1990), Brazilian footballer
- Darlene Fairley (born 1943), American politician
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Darlene
Phonetically similar names — useful when Darlene is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Darlene
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How popular is Darlene in 2026?
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About the name Darlene
Darlene is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1896 and has accumulated 205K births in the dataset. Darlene's peak popularity came in 1958 when it ranked #49. Use the chart and map above to compare Darlene's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1958 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.