Jolene is Dolly Parton's 1974 song, and that association is essentially inescapable. The song is one of the most recognized and covered country songs in American history; the name has belonged to Dolly's fictional romantic rival for fifty years. For a female pet at rank 1053, choosing Jolene is an act of specific cultural affiliation: it's a name that announces something about the owner's taste as much as the pet's personality.
The Dolly Parton Factor
Dolly Parton wrote "Jolene" as a plea to a real woman, a red-haired bank teller she had met. The character became iconic: beautiful, threatening, flame-haired. Owners naming a female pet Jolene are almost always tapping this reference consciously. It works particularly well on striking-looking female dogs — Irish Setters with their red coats are a natural fit — and on cats who carry themselves with the confidence the song's subject commands.
Sound Quality
Jo-LEEN is three syllables with a flowing rhythm and an open ending that carries well. It's a melodically shaped name (which makes sense given its origins as a lyric) and it has a warmth that doesn't sacrifice clarity. The stress on the second syllable is distinctive enough to separate it from commands in training contexts.
Country Aesthetic and Owner Type
Jolene signals a specific owner: someone who loves classic country, probably Parton specifically, and wants that affiliation worn openly. It's not an ironic choice. Compare Dolly for the more direct tribute option, or the human Jolene for the name's etymology outside the song.