Arlene

Meaning of Arlene

It means 'free woman' or 'noble'. The name is often considered a feminine form of names like Charles or Charlotte.

Arlene has Germanic roots — browse every Germanic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Arlene

After ranking as high as #762 in 2002, Arlene has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Arlene

• Arlene Francis
  American TV personality, actress
• Arlene Dahl
  Classic Hollywood actress, beauty expert
• Arlene Foster
  Northern Irish politician, former First Minister
• Arlene Phillips
  British choreographer, TV personality
• Arlene Martel
  Actress, 'Star Trek' T'Pring

More Germanic names

Questions about the name Arlene

What does the name Arlene mean?

Arlene means it means 'free woman' or 'noble'. the name is often considered a feminine form of names like charles or charlotte, and it comes from Germanic origins.

Is Arlene a boy's or a girl's name?

Arlene is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Arlene?

Arlene did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Arlene most popular?

Arlene peaked at #762 in 2002.