Jolene Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jolene is an English name that means pretty or youthful. It evolved from the name Joan and became popular in the 20th century, particularly after Dolly Parton's song. The name carries traits of beauty and grace, and it has no biblical relevance.
The name Jolene is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West 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, Jolene has been stalled for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Jolene' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8770th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3432nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 619th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 428th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 401st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 586th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1152nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 556th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jolene' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jolene"
Pronunciation
/dʒoʊˈliːn/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Jolene is a modern feminine name that is likely derived from the name 'Joan' combined with the suffix '-lene'. It gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly after the release of the song 'Jolene' by Dolly Parton in 1973.
Meaning
Pretty, youthful, or God is gracious.
Language Evolution
Joan, Joleen, Jolene
Historical Usage
Jolene became widely recognized in the 1970s due to the hit song by Dolly Parton, which contributed significantly to its popularity.
Variants & Derivatives
Joleen, Jo, Lena
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Jolene is perceived as a charming and graceful name, often associated with beauty and femininity.
Famous People
Jolene Blalock, Jolene Anderson
Explore More Jolene Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jolene"
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 "Jolene"
"Jolene" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8770th of 10718 | 12 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3432nd of 9107 | 126 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 619th of 9204 | 2,314 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 428th of 12526 | 8,735 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 401st of 19264 | 8,756 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 586th of 27321 | 5,923 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1152nd of 35406 | 3,247 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 556th of 30306 | 6,696 |
Regional Popularity of "Jolene" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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 "Jolene" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 1416th/1416 |
- |
93.32% 2208th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.08% 465th/1546 |
59.83% 931st/1556 |
33.19% 781st/2353 |
29.61% 458th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.66% 282nd/2227 |
23.46% 570th/2430 |
33.58% 958th/2853 |
11.03% 306th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
10.04% 295th/2937 |
13.38% 466th/3483 |
25.38% 893rd/3518 |
7.07% 286th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
12.56% 463rd/3685 |
11.24% 503rd/4475 |
23.51% 1221st/5194 |
7.47% 472nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
21.13% 968th/4582 |
20.97% 1083rd/5164 |
21.87% 1599th/7313 |
12.97% 968th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
11.72% 467th/3984 |
12.90% 579th/4487 |
9.18% 626th/6822 |
7.93% 498th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jolene"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jolene" 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.