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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Derived from 'darling' (dearly loved), coined with a name-suffix as in Charlene/Marlene
- Origin
- English (modern coinage)
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- dar-LEEN
Darlene (pronounced dar-LEEN) is an English name coined in the modern era, built from 'darling' with the same suffix pattern found in Charlene and Marlene. That gives it a straightforward, dearly-loved meaning baked right into the sound of the name. If you're drawn to names with a clear, warm origin rather than an ancient or borrowed one, Darlene fits that bill.
Meaning & Origin of Darlene
Meaning: Derived from 'darling' (dearly loved), coined with a name-suffix as in Charlene/Marlene.
Origin: English (modern coinage).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Darlene
dar-LEENIPA /dɑːrˈliːn/
Popularity of Darlene
Darlene peaked at #49 in 1958, when 8,279 baby girls were given the name, but by 2024 it had fallen to #1802 with just 111 babies — a name that was solidly mainstream in the late 1950s and is now rarely used.
Names Like Darlene
These names share Darlene’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Darlene mean?
Derived from ‘darling’ (dearly loved), coined with a name-suffix as in Charlene/Marlene. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Darlene?
Darlene is pronounced dar-LEEN (IPA: /dɑːrˈliːn/).
Is Darlene a popular name right now?
Darlene peaked at #49 in 1958 and is ranked #1802 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1896–2024.)
Make Darlene Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Darlene, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Darlene? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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