Carlene
A girls’ name of Old English origin, meaning free woman; a form of Caroline.
Carlene by the numbers
Carlene was given to 16 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 371 babies in 1955, so it is a 1950s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Caroline
Like Carlene, each of these traces back to Caroline: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Carolynstrong and womanly; a form of Caroline321 in the US (2017)
- Karolinefree woman; variant of Caroline139 in the US (2017)
- Carriefree woman; a form of Caroline128 in the US (2017)
- Carolynnfree woman; a form of Caroline44 in the US (2017)
- Caralinefree woman; respelling of Caroline33 in the US (2017)
- Carolynefree man; variant spelling of Caroline25 in the US (2017)
- Carolinfree man or woman; a form of Caroline13 in the US (2017)
- Carlitaa diminutive form of Caroline; free woman or strong6 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Carlene. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Carleefree woman; a form of Carla or Carly259 in the US (2017)
- Charlenefree person; a form of Charles152 in the US (2017)
- Carlenaa form of Caroline; free woman or strong6 in the US (2017)
- Carlen5 in the US (2017)
- Carolinefree woman; feminine form of Charles4,270 in the US (2017)
- Charleefree man; a feminine spelling of charles1,176 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Carlene
Names that are said the same way as Carlene, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Carlinlittle champion; from Cathal61 in the US (2017)
- Carlynnfree man; a feminine form of Carl25 in the US (2017)
- Karlynvariant of Carolyn; joyful song24 in the US (2017)
- Karlinfree man; a diminutive of karl or charles22 in the US (2017)
- Karlenefree woman; a form of caroline or karlene13 in the US (2017)
- Karleenfree person; a form of Caroline or Carla10 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean freedom
Like Carlene, each of these has freedom in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Charlottefree woman; feminine form of Charles12,900 in the US (2017)
- Charliefree man1,679 in England and Wales (2025)
- Lottiefree woman; from Charlotte1,222 in England and Wales (2025)
- Frankiefree man; a form of Frank887 in England and Wales (2025)
- Francisfree man; from the Franks262 in England and Wales (2025)
- Carolinafree woman; a form of Caroline715 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Carlene
Nobody has voted for Carlene yet
Vote for Carlene and put it up against all the other baby names
Vote for Carlene