Arleen

An uncommon Celtic pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysCelticDeclining
#4767 571in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Arlene.

Arleen is a girl's and boy's baby name of Celtic origin, a variant of Arlene, possibly derived from the Irish Áirling (which became Aisling, meaning 'dream, vision') or from a Germanic root meaning 'eagle.'

With over 12,500 recorded births, Arleen was most popular in the mid-20th century — it carries the warmth of the Great Depression and postwar era naming that gave us Marlene, Darlene, and Charlene. It has a vintage softness that makes it ripe for rediscovery, sharing its melodic sound with the entire -een ending tradition of American feminine names.

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Popularity Over Time

Arleen was #3037 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4767, but its charm endures.

01042083114151900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Arleen
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s189
2010s527
2000s547
1990s372
1980s304
1970s331
1960s1,812
1950s2,182
1940s2,560
1930s1,537
1920s1,610
1910s536
1900s73
1890s12

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(126 years, 18982024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Arleen
YearBirthsRank
202428#4767
202334#4196
202246#3425
202141#3680
202040#3685
201929#4661
201861#2785
201748#3308
201650#3235
201558#2966
201463#2745
201343#3577
201256#3008
201161#2844
201058#2941
200949#3370
200868#2695
200753#3218
200668#2637
200573#2408

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Arleen as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Arleen has also been given to 6 boys in the U.S. since 1942.

Unranked
Current rank
6
Total births
1942
Peak year
Compare Arleen as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Arleen be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Arleen is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #4767. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18982024) · Methodology