Total births
2,379
Girls' name · since 1913
Merlene
Since 1913, U.S. Social Security records show 2,379 babies named Merlene, peaking in 1940. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,379
- total births
- 1913–1984
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
Merlene is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 2,379 have been recorded since 1913.
Social Security Administration records show Merlene recorded 2,379 times among girls since 1913, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1913 to 1984.
- 2,379 total births
- 1913–1984 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,379 girls have been named Merlene since 1913, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1984.
- 2,379
- total births
- 1913–1984
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Merlene was born in this single decade.
1940
Single peak year
93 babies were named Merlene in 1940 - its busiest year on record.
Merlene's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Merlene splits its recorded history at 1946: 38% of all births land in the more recent half, 62% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1913 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1940 peak of 93 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Merlene at a glance
Last recorded 1984Peak year
1940
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1913
Merlene popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1913–1984
- Peak year (1940)
- 93
- Annual births at peak, across 72 years of records
Merlene by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Merlene's strongest decade.
687 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Merlene births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 76
1910s
76 births
- 1920s
1920s
307 births
- 1930s
1930s
687 births
- 1940s
1940s
632 births
- 1950s
1950s
432 births
- 1960s 181
1960s
181 births
- 1970s 53
1970s
53 births
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 687 births (29% of all-time use).
How Merlene compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Merlene's total volume
Merlene vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Merlene by state
Where Merlene concentrates geographically, total births since 1913
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 217 | 9.1% |
| #2 | California | | 82 | 3.4% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 42 | 1.8% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 37 | 1.6% |
| #5 | Utah | | 34 | 1.4% |
| #6 | Oklahoma | | 32 | 1.3% |
| #7 | Arkansas | | 23 | 1.0% |
| #8 | Mississippi | | 17 | 0.7% |
Texas share of Merlene's total US births 9.1%
Even split
217 of 2,379 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 15 reporting states.
Merlene appears in 15 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merlene? ▼
Merlene has been given to 2,379 babies in the U.S. since 1913, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1984. 93 babies were born in 1940, its single highest year.
When was Merlene most popular? ▼
Merlene was most popular in the 1930s decade with 687 total births. The single peak year was 1940.
Where is Merlene most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merlene are Texas (217 births), California (82 births), Louisiana (42 births).
How long has the name Merlene been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Merlene since 1913 -- 72 years through the most recent 1984 data.
What names are similar to Merlene? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Meredith, Mercedes, Merle, Mercy, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Merlene's data
- Merlene's decade-level peak was the 1930s (687 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Merlenes (217 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- 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 Merlene
Nearby Names Like Merlene
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merlene
Meredith Girl
#492 77,787 births
Mercedes Girl
#1446 46,206 births
Merle Girl
14,723 births
Mercy Girl
#845 10,632 births
Merry Girl
#6942 10,369 births
Compare Merlene side by side: Merlene vs Meredith Merlene vs Mercedes Merlene vs Merle
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, 1913–1984 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merlene: Baby Name Since 1913 - 2,379 Births, Peak 1940." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merlene. 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 Merlene 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.