Arline
Arline was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked 248th; the most babies were born in 1924 (677). More babies were named Arline in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Arlene) 19th-century coinage · American English
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1924677 babies
- Total since 1880
- 17,626babies recorded
What does the name Arline mean?
Arline is a spelling of Arlene, pronounced the same way, so it shares Arlene's meaning and origin.
Arlene is a 19th-century coinage, which Wiktionary says was probably based on similar-sounding names such as Charlene and Arlette. It has no inherited meaning. It was very popular in the US in the 1920s and 1930s, along with Darlene and Marlene; actress Arlene Dahl is a well-known bearer.
How sure is this? Probable. A coined name; any meaning is borrowed from similar names.
Related names: Arline, Arleen, Charlene, Marlene.
See also: American names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Arlene', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (our computation), SSA (public domain)
Arline popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 36 since 1917.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #12,298 | 7 |
| 2010 | #17,314 | 5 |
| 2000 | #5,163 | 22 |
| 1990 | #8,550 | 9 |
| 1980 | #4,533 | 16 |
| 1970 | #3,724 | 16 |
| 1960 | #1,432 | 59 |
| 1950 | #1,019 | 80 |
| 1940 | #419 | 267 |
| 1930 | #337 | 371 |
| 1920 | #272 | 583 |
| 1910 | #387 | 104 |
| 1900 | #591 | 35 |
| 1890 | #619 | 18 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Arline, counting every spelling?
Arline is a spelling of Arlene, a name family that ranked #1,128 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 196 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlene | 127 | #1,632 | 585 |
| Arlyn | 36 | #3,987 | 198 |
| Arleen | 19 | #6,145 | 168 |
| Arlynn | 14 | #7,520 | 86 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Arline?
About 3,600 people born in the US named Arline are alive today, with a median age of 79; half are between 63 and 87. That makes Arline a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Arline by state
How common Arline was among girls born in each state in 1922–1926, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Maine (5.3×), New Hampshire (4.7×), Connecticut (3.8×), Wisconsin (3.6×), Rhode Island (2.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Georgia, Mississippi, West Virginia.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Arline: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Arline, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Arline
What does Arline mean?
Arline is a spelling of Arlene, which means “19th-century coinage” (American English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Arline?
Arline was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked 248th; the most babies were born in 1924 (677). More babies were named Arline in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Arline a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Arline in the US.
Where was Arline most popular?
In 1922–1926, Arline was most common in Maine (2.72 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Hampshire and Connecticut.