Arlena Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ar-LEE-nah /ɑːrˈliː.nə/
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: noble; Latin: derived from 'Arlene'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Arlena is believed to have roots in the Hebrew name "Ariel," which means "lion of God." This name was adapted into Greek as "Ariēl" and later into Latin, maintaining its original meaning. The name made its way into English through various translations of biblical texts, particularly during the Renaissance when Hebrew names gained popularity among scholars and the general populace.
The name Ariel appears in the Old Testament, notably in the Book of Isaiah, where it is associated with Jerusalem, further embedding its significance in religious and cultural contexts. Historically, the name Arlena may have emerged as a variant or derivative of Ariel, particularly in the 19th century, when many names were being created or modified to reflect a more feminine form.
The use of -ena as a suffix is common in many names, adding a lyrical quality that was favored in various cultures. The name Ariel itself has been borne by notable figures, including characters in literature, such as Shakespeare's "The Tempest," where Ariel is a spirit, showcasing the name's association with ethereal qualities.
Culturally, names derived from Ariel, including Arlena, have often been linked to themes of strength, divinity, and nature, resonating with the symbolic representation of lions and the divine. This connection to powerful imagery has contributed to the name's endurance in various forms over the centuries.
While Arlena may not have a long historical record, its roots in the more established name Ariel provide a rich tapestry of meaning and significance that reflects both linguistic evolution and cultural heritage.
Famous people named Arlena
In this section, you will find notable people named Arlena. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Arlena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Arlena who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Arlena Twigg is a writer best known for her novels and contributions to contemporary literature.
Fictional characters named Arlena
The following list of fictional characters named Arlena is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Arlena Stuart is a fictional character from the novel and film Murder on the Orient Express. She is a glamorous actress whose murder serves as the central mystery in the story.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Arlena, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Arlena. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Arlena was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Arlena has ranked as high as #809 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in California, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, and Arkansas.
In the past 5 years the name Arlena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Arlena is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Arlena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Arlena (2002)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Arlena.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 1999 | 13 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1997 | 21 |
| 1996 | 22 |
| 1995 | 29 |
| 1994 | 34 |
| 1993 | 24 |
| 1992 | 34 |
| 1991 | 31 |
| 1990 | 26 |
| 1989 | 18 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1987 | 18 |
| 1986 | 15 |
| 1985 | 17 |
| 1984 | 20 |
| 1983 | 22 |
| 1982 | 26 |
| 1981 | 25 |
| 1980 | 23 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 28 |
| 1977 | 25 |
| 1976 | 19 |
| 1975 | 17 |
| 1974 | 27 |
| 1973 | 18 |
| 1972 | 24 |
| 1971 | 22 |
| 1970 | 26 |
| 1969 | 29 |
| 1968 | 24 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 25 |
| 1965 | 24 |
| 1964 | 27 |
| 1963 | 26 |
| 1962 | 27 |
| 1961 | 22 |
| 1960 | 20 |
| 1959 | 23 |
| 1958 | 31 |
| 1957 | 16 |
| 1956 | 13 |
| 1955 | 12 |
| 1954 | 18 |
| 1953 | 20 |
| 1952 | 21 |
| 1951 | 26 |
| 1950 | 30 |
| 1949 | 17 |
| 1948 | 29 |
| 1947 | 18 |
| 1946 | 22 |
| 1945 | 22 |
| 1944 | 20 |
| 1943 | 22 |
| 1942 | 30 |
| 1941 | 24 |
| 1940 | 25 |
| 1939 | 24 |
| 1938 | 25 |
| 1937 | 25 |
| 1936 | 23 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 27 |
| 1933 | 35 |
| 1932 | 33 |
| 1931 | 33 |
| 1930 | 48 |
| 1929 | 33 |
| 1928 | 27 |
| 1927 | 41 |
| 1926 | 33 |
| 1925 | 54 |
| 1924 | 46 |
| 1923 | 34 |
| 1922 | 32 |
| 1921 | 39 |
| 1920 | 45 |
| 1919 | 60 |
| 1918 | 34 |
| 1917 | 32 |
| 1916 | 41 |
| 1915 | 26 |
| 1914 | 28 |
| 1913 | 24 |
| 1912 | 20 |
| 1911 | 20 |
| 1910 | 20 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1908 | 22 |
| 1907 | 14 |
| 1906 | 13 |
| 1905 | 15 |
| 1904 | 13 |
| 1903 | 13 |
| 1902 | 16 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1899 | 9 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1895 | 6 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1892 | 13 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1886 | 5 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1883 | 6 |