Lurlene
A girl's name of French origin with 881 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Lurlene hit its peak of 37 births in 1921, American naming still drew heavily from family heritage, religious tradition, and the cultural norms of the time.
Today, Lurlene reads as a vintage revival candidate — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Lurlene is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Lurlene is a girl's baby name of French origin, a variant of Lurline or Lorelei, possibly connected to the German Loreley — the legendary Rhine river nymph whose song lured sailors — or from the French leurre (lure). The -lene ending gives it a melodic, American quality.
Lurlene has a flowing, three-syllable sound with an almost mythological, atmospheric quality. It was used most in the American South between 1920 and 1950, when names ending in -lene were fashionable. It carries the haunting beauty of its Loreley connection in a warm American form.
EtymologyShow more
Lurlene is built from 7 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the French naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Lurlene creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lurlene has 56+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1905.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31 | #6352 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 83 | #4632 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 130 | #2586 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 176 | #1974 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 274 | #1622 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 167 | #1681 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 20 | #1820 | — |
The Story of Lurlene
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1921, Lurlene is a name steeped in history. Girls named Lurlene are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.
How rare is Lurlene?
With 881 total births on record, Lurlene remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1905, peaked in the 1920s with 274 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lurlene by the numbers
- Would fill 18 school buses
- Meeting one Lurlene per day would take 2.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1905–1968)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 7 | #5980 |
| 1967 | 6 | #6477 |
| 1964 | 5 | #7374 |
| 1963 | 7 | #5653 |
| 1961 | 6 | #6274 |
| 1959 | 7 | #5344 |
| 1958 | 5 | #6640 |
| 1957 | 10 | #4091 |
| 1956 | 9 | #4343 |
| 1955 | 7 | #5011 |
| 1954 | 10 | #3865 |
| 1953 | 7 | #4851 |
| 1952 | 9 | #3998 |
| 1951 | 6 | #5189 |
| 1950 | 13 | #2985 |
| 1948 | 11 | #3262 |
| 1947 | 14 | #2846 |
| 1946 | 14 | #2691 |
| 1945 | 9 | #3292 |
| 1944 | 16 | #2249 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lurlene a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lurlene most popular?
How popular is the name Lurlene?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1905–1968