Sibling names for Arlene
Names that sound like they belong in the same family as Arlene usually share its era. These sister and brother names rose and fell on a similar curve to Arlene, whose busiest decade was the 1930s, and are about as common, so neither child's name will feel dated or unusual next to the other.
Sister names for Arlene
| Name | Meaning | Rank 2025 | Babies, last 5 years | Peak decade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllis | foliage (Greek) | #12,873 | 53 | 1940s |
| Geraldine | coined for 'one of the Fitzgeralds' | #2,447 | 565 | 1930s |
| Shirley | bright clearing; shire meadow | #1,586 | 662 | 1930s |
| Rosemarie | Rose + Marie | #1,767 | 577 | 1940s |
| Norma | #2,012 | 439 | 1930s | |
| Elaine | Old French form of Helen | #305 | 3,996 | 1940s |
| Margie | pet form of Margaret | #6,730 | 99 | 1920s |
| Marilyn | #761 | 2,002 | 1940s | |
| Billie | short form of William | #691 | 1,689 | 1930s |
Brother names for Arlene
| Name | Meaning | Rank 2025 | Babies, last 5 years | Peak decade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald | world ruler (Gaelic) | #690 | 2,089 | 1930s |
| Don | short form of Donald, 'world ruler' | #1,795 | 492 | 1940s |
| Gerald | spear rule | #1,206 | 982 | 1940s |
| Buddy | #4,418 | 158 | 1930s | |
| Doyle | "descendant of Dubhghall (dark stranger)" | #7,815 | 52 | 1930s |
| Jimmy | pet form of James | #847 | 1,536 | 1940s |
| Billy | pet form of William | #1,068 | 1,037 | 1930s |
| Lowell | "little wolf" | #3,281 | 179 | 1930s |
| Benny | pet form of Benjamin | #841 | 1,197 | 1940s |
| Freddie | pet form of Frederick | #1,510 | 414 | 1940s |
Arlene's era
Arlene ranked #1,632 for girls in 2025, against #1,382 in 2015. Its best year was 1934, at #53. Names that rose and fell with it share its period feel, which keeps the set consistent.
Timeless names that go with any sibling
These names have been used steadily for a hundred years, so they sit comfortably next to a name from any era, Arlene included.
Girls: Elizabeth, Maria, Lydia, Cecilia, Julia, Miriam. Boys: Samuel, Wesley, Vincent, Calvin, Victor, Oscar.
Same era, but close to Arlene
These names follow Arlene's curve too, but we left them out above because they share a first letter or an ending with Arlene. Some parents like that echo; if you do, start here.
- Gene same ending as Arlene
How these were chosen
Each suggestion's share of US babies has followed a curve close to Arlene's since 1880, and its recent number of babies is within about twelve times Arlene's, so the names are in the same league. Names starting with the same letter as Arlene or with the same ending are left out, so the names go together without matching. Spellings of Arlene itself are excluded.