girls' name · peaked 1939

Arleen

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

Every Arleen since 1898 — 12,617 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#6,145
among girls
Babies in 2025
19
named Arleen
Peak year
1939
415 babies
All-time total
12,617
since 1898

The story of Arleen

Arleen is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,145 in 2025 with 19 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1898, 12,617 American babies have been named Arleen. Its peak came in 1939, when 415 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Arleen stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Arleen year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 19 #6,145
2024 28 #4,779
2023 34 #4,198
2022 46 #3,425
2021 41 #3,684
2020 40 #3,689
2019 29 #4,662
2018 61 #2,785
2017 48 #3,310
2016 50 #3,236
2015 58 #2,966
2014 63 #2,746
2013 43 #3,579
2012 56 #3,010
2011 61 #2,844
2010 58 #2,941
2009 49 #3,370
2008 68 #2,695
2007 53 #3,218
2006 68 #2,637
2005 73 #2,408
2004 51 #3,037
2003 50 #3,005
2002 48 #3,021
2001 47 #3,013
2000 40 #3,339
1995 33 #3,363
1990 35 #3,162
1985 32 #2,864
1980 28 #3,071
1975 26 #2,815
1970 58 #1,620
1965 190 #718
1960 253 #636
1955 232 #607
1950 222 #557
1945 174 #557
1940 268 #417
1935 93 #693
1930 144 #566
1925 185 #520
1920 134 #617
1915 70 #787
1910 14 #1,212
1905 9 #1,307
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Arleen

  1. Arleen Sorkin Actor · b. 1956

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Arleen mean?

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

How popular is the name Arleen in 2025?

Arleen ranked #6,145 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 19 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Arleen?

12,617 babies have been named Arleen in the United States since 1898, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Arleen most popular?

Arleen peaked in 1939, when 415 newborns received the name.

Is Arleen a boy or girl name?

Arleen is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Arleen rising or falling?

Arleen is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Arleen?

Well-known people named Arleen include Arleen Sorkin (actor).

Names like Arleen

Compare Arleen with similar names →