Total births
71
Girls' name · since 1936
Garlene
Since 1936, U.S. Social Security records show 71 babies named Garlene, peaking in 1940. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 71
- total births
- 1936–1961
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
Garlene sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 71 recorded since 1936.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Garlene has been recorded 71 times among girls since 1936, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1936 to 1961.
- 71 total births
- 1936–1961 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 45% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
71 girls have been named Garlene since 1936, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 1961.
- 71
- total births
- 1936–1961
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
45% of everyone ever named Garlene was born in this single decade.
1940
Single peak year
8 babies were named Garlene in 1940 - its busiest year on record.
Garlene's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Garlene's full recorded timeline at 1945, 44% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 56% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1936, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1940 peak of 8 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Garlene at a glance
Last recorded 1961Peak year
1940
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1936
Garlene popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1936–1961
- Peak year (1940)
- 8
- Annual births at peak, across 26 years of records
Garlene by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Garlene's strongest decade.
32 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 45% of all-time use.
Garlene births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s
1930s
19 births
- 1940s
1940s
32 births
- 1950s
1950s
15 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 32 births (45% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Garlene? ▼
Garlene has been given to 71 babies in the U.S. since 1936, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1961. 8 babies were born in 1940, its single highest year.
When was Garlene most popular? ▼
Garlene was most popular in the 1940s decade with 32 total births. The single peak year was 1940.
How long has the name Garlene been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Garlene since 1936 -- 26 years through the most recent 1961 data.
What names are similar to Garlene? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Garnet, Gary, Garnett, Gardenia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Garlene's data
- Garlene's decade-level peak was the 1940s (32 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Garlene
Nearby Names Like Garlene
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Garlene
Garnet Girl
#15335 6,913 births
Gary Girl
3,286 births
Garnett Girl
2,784 births
Gardenia Girl
#9017 1,354 births
Garnette Girl
945 births
Compare Garlene side by side: Garlene vs Garnet Garlene vs Gary Garlene vs Garnett
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1936–1961 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Garlene: Baby Name Since 1936 - 71 Births, Peak 1940." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/garlene. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Garlene draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.