Dorlene
Feminine
Dorlene is a three-syllable name with the Dor- of Doris and Dorothy and the -lene of Darlene. It is warm and old-fashioned, from an earlier American generation.
How old is the name Dorlene?
Dorlene first appears in US birth records in 1915 — 110 years ago. The typical Dorlene alive today was born around 1938, making them about 87 years old. About 200 people named Dorlene are estimated to be alive in the US today.
When was the name Dorlene most popular?
Dorlene peaked in 1933, reaching #1470 nationally. See the whole 1933 chart.
Lists built from the same records:
Where it comes from
Origin, sound and short forms
Our story of Dorlene
Darlene and Marlene were among the best-loved -lene names of their day, and families swapped their openings freely. Dorlene takes the Dor- of Dorothy and Doris and sets it before that familiar ending. It is a name made from pieces that families already treasured, and it carries their warmth.
Meaningnot established
Not established
No source records a meaning for Dorlene. It joins the Dor- of Doris and Dorothy to the -lene of Darlene and Marlene, and no record says who first built it.
Pronouncing Dorlene
dor-LEEN
Stress on the second syllable.
Nicknames for Dorlene
Limited
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1915
- Most girls named
- 193325 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #1470reached in 1933
- Change vs 1968
- −16.7%5 in 1971, from 6
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Dorlenes among us
people named Dorlene are estimated to be alive in the US today
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
Questions parents actually ask
Fashion outlook
Dorlene sits outside the current charts, and that is its own kind of answer: naming cycles can only date the names they carried up. A name this rare has no decade stamped on it — it cannot go out of fashion, because it was never in.
Based on 146 years of naming cycles. How we read them
The trade-off
- It is easy to say and sounds familiar.
- It is rare, so she will seldom share it.
- People will write Darlene or Doreen.
- There is no recorded meaning to give when someone asks.
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Dorlene
Feminine
Frequently asked
- How many Dorlenes are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. About 200 people named Dorlene are estimated to be alive in the US today.
- How popular is the name Dorlene in 2025?
- Dorlene is rarely given in the US today — it does not rank in the top 2000 girl names.
- Will my child share the name Dorlene with classmates?
- Dorlene will almost certainly be the only one in school.
More D names
The most-given names starting with D, all years combined.
Dorothy#421 · Donna#1962 · Deborah#862 · Debra#4460 · Diane#2607 · Doris#2895 · Denise#1673 · Danielle#549
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Dorlene? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Dorlene and another name?
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US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
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