Karlene
Every Karlene since 1913 — 4,167 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Karlene
Karlene is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1913, 4,167 American babies have been named Karlene. Its peak came in 1959, when 104 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Karlene stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Karlene year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | 7 | #12,782 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11,693 |
| 2022 | 5 | #16,480 |
| 2021 | 7 | #12,836 |
| 2020 | 11 | #9,232 |
| 2019 | 5 | #16,746 |
| 2018 | 5 | #16,854 |
| 2017 | 13 | #8,539 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,305 |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | 6 | #15,583 |
| 2013 | 11 | #9,910 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,733 |
| 2011 | 5 | #18,160 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11,742 |
| 2009 | 10 | #11,073 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7,221 |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,228 |
| 2006 | 17 | #7,309 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10,517 |
| 2004 | 23 | #5,456 |
| 2003 | 16 | #7,048 |
| 2002 | 22 | #5,353 |
| 2001 | 28 | #4,377 |
| 2000 | 22 | #5,229 |
| 1995 | 32 | #3,452 |
| 1990 | 16 | #5,674 |
| 1985 | 39 | #2,512 |
| 1980 | 37 | #2,558 |
| 1975 | 38 | #2,215 |
| 1970 | 56 | #1,666 |
| 1965 | 70 | #1,294 |
| 1960 | 94 | #1,119 |
| 1955 | 76 | #1,148 |
| 1950 | 75 | #1,067 |
| 1945 | 60 | #997 |
| 1940 | 64 | #898 |
| 1935 | 35 | #1,213 |
| 1930 | 11 | #2,774 |
| 1925 | 5 | #5,390 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4,661 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,616 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Karlene in 2025?
Karlene did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Karlene?
4,167 babies have been named Karlene in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Karlene most popular?
Karlene peaked in 1959, when 104 newborns received the name.
Is Karlene a boy or girl name?
Karlene is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Karlene rising or falling?
Karlene has been roughly stable over the past decade.