Darlene

Updated: October 5, 2023 by Olivia Mittak

Darlene is a sweet and stunning baby name for girls. Commonly associated with the mid-century era, this name has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Darlene Connor was a character on the sitcom Roseanne, and Darlene Taylor is character on the soap opera Hollyoaks. Keep reading to learn more about this baby name.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Darlene:

Darlene originates from the Anglo-Saxon expression dēorel-ene (meaning “little dear one”). As an adjective, the Anglo-Saxon phrase evolved into the Old English dēorling and the Middle English derling (eventually producing the word “darling”). Since Darlene became widespread as a given name during the 20th century, some etymologists believe that the name simply combines the modern word “darling” with the popular feminine suffix -lene.

Symbolism of the Name Darlene:

Darlene is a baby name that means “darling” or “dear one.” While some etymologists believe that Darlene is a primarily mid-century modern name, other experts emphasize the name's connection to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. These experts believe that Anglo-Saxon words dēorel-ene and dēorling were pet names that eventually became surnames with regional spelling variations. The noblemen Ælfmar Dyrling and Oter Dirlinges both represent examples of this regional variation. By the 1700s, however, Darlene had developed into a standardized surname with its own coat of arms. Symbols of Darlene include Britannia (the anthropomorphic personification of Britain) and the Anglo-Saxon helmet.

Nicknames for the Name Darlene:

Darlene is commonly shortened to Darla. If Darla isn't a nickname you like, we're here to tell you that you have other options! Here is a list of the best nicknames for Darlene:

Darla
Darie
Darlie
Darli
Arlene
Lena
Ari
Ar
Dar
Lina
Daria
Dee
Dee-Dee
Len
Lennie
Lens

Style of the Name Darlene:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Darlene:

Darlene is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the Name Darlene:

dahr-LEEN

Number of Syllables in the Name Darlene:

Two

Emotion Evoked From the Name Darlene:

The name Darlene evokes feelings of affection and familial endearment.

Alternative Spellings for the Name Darlene:

Darlène
Darleen
Darleyne
Darleane
Darline
Darlinn
Darlyn
Darlyne

Popularity of the Name Darlene:

According to the Social Security Administration index, Darlene was the 999th most popular baby name for girls in 2004. It hasn't returned to the top 1,000 list since.