Darlene Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Darlene is an English name derived from the term 'darling', meaning beloved. It evolved from the Middle English word 'darling' into its current form in the 20th century. The name reflects traits of affection and endearment, with no significant biblical relevance. It saw a rise in popularity in the mid-20th century and is now viewed as a classic name. Notable individuals with this name include Darlene Love and Darlene Hooley.
The name Darlene is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Darlene has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Darlene' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7545th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2199th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2180th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3824th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15172nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 359th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 101st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 78th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 168th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 518th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1035th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1641st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Darlene' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Darlene"
Pronunciation
/dɑːrˈliːn/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Darlene is derived from the English word 'darling', which means beloved or dear. It was created as a feminine form in the early 20th century.
Meaning
beloved, dear
Language Evolution
Darling (Middle English), Darlene (20th century)
Historical Usage
Darlene gained popularity in the United States in the early to mid-20th century, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s.
Variants & Derivatives
Dar, Darla
Modern Popularity & Image
Darlene is perceived as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and affection.
Famous People
Darlene Love, American singer and actress, Darlene Hooley, American politician
Explore More Darlene Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Darlene"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Darlene"
"Darlene" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2199th of 6773 | 211 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2180th of 7552 | 264 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3824th of 10718 | 117 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15172nd of 16616 | 7 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 359th of 9107 | 6,030 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 101st of 9204 | 49,357 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 78th of 12526 | 108,549 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 168th of 19264 | 28,410 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 518th of 27321 | 7,150 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1035th of 35406 | 3,721 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1641st of 30306 | 1,604 |
Regional Popularity of "Darlene" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Darlene" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.43% 176th/1416 |
62.87% 867th/1379 |
34.49% 816th/2366 |
23.20% 265th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
2.91% 45th/1546 |
10.67% 166th/1556 |
10.67% 251st/2353 |
2.78% 43rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.23% 72nd/2227 |
2.51% 61st/2430 |
3.15% 90th/2853 |
3.03% 84th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.12% 209th/2937 |
3.42% 119th/3483 |
5.34% 188th/3518 |
4.40% 178th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
18.75% 691st/3685 |
10.12% 453rd/4475 |
12.61% 655th/5194 |
6.25% 395th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
35.40% 1622nd/4582 |
20.91% 1080th/5164 |
20.73% 1516th/7313 |
8.44% 630th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
55.10% 2195th/3984 |
38.69% 1736th/4487 |
30.67% 2092nd/6822 |
15.71% 986th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Darlene"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Darlene" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.