Earline
Primarily a girl's name with 16,524 recorded births. Also given to 59 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from English.
Earline is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, a feminine form of Earl, derived from the Old English eorl, meaning 'nobleman, warrior, chieftain.' The -ine suffix feminizes the aristocratic title.
Earline was most popular in the American South between the 1910s and 1950s. It carries a dignified, old-fashioned charm — a name that suggests both strength and grace in equal measure.
EtymologyShow more
Though Earline dates back to 1889 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded.
Earline’s 16,524 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by tens of thousands of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Earline has 101+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1889.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35 | #11403 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 132 | #6010 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 283 | #3040 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 906 | #1198 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,914 | #693 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 3,218 | #413 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 3,899 | #321 | — |
| 1920s | 4,086 | #329 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 1,694 | #449 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 290 | #743 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 62 | #1059 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 5 | #1334 | — |
The Story of Earline
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1927, Earline is a name steeped in history. Girls named Earline are most likely born between 1917 and 1937.
How rare is Earline?
Earline has 16,524 recorded births in the U.S. — a well-established name with deep roots.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1889, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 4,086 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Earline by the numbers
- Would fill 344 school buses
- Meeting one Earline per day would take 45.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(101 years, 1889–1995)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 | #14087 |
| 1993 | 7 | #10915 |
| 1992 | 5 | #13921 |
| 1991 | 11 | #7557 |
| 1990 | 7 | #10535 |
| 1989 | 6 | #11237 |
| 1988 | 14 | #5684 |
| 1987 | 10 | #6938 |
| 1986 | 13 | #5526 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7116 |
| 1984 | 11 | #6013 |
| 1983 | 18 | #4159 |
| 1982 | 19 | #4061 |
| 1981 | 19 | #4044 |
| 1980 | 13 | #5317 |
| 1979 | 15 | #4679 |
| 1978 | 17 | #4121 |
| 1977 | 19 | #3798 |
| 1976 | 21 | #3314 |
| 1975 | 19 | #3538 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Earline as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Earline has also been given to 59 boys in the U.S. since 1925.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Earline a boy's or girl's name?
When was Earline most popular?
How popular is the name Earline?
Can Earline be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1889–1995