Carlena Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kar-LEE-nah //kɑːrˈliː.nə//
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: free woman; English: diminutive of Carla
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Carlena is a feminine form derived from the masculine name Carl, which has its roots in the Old Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "man." The name Karl was adopted into Latin as Carolus, which later influenced various European languages. In the context of English, the name Carl entered through Old French as Charles, which was popularized in England following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
The feminine form Carlena likely emerged as a modern adaptation, combining the established name Carl with the suffix -ena, which is often used to create feminine variants in various languages. Historically, the name Charles has been associated with several notable figures, including Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD and played a crucial role in the Carolingian Renaissance.
The name has been borne by numerous kings and saints throughout history, contributing to its enduring legacy. The influence of the name can also be seen in significant literary works, such as the King James Bible, where the name Charles is referenced in various contexts, further embedding it in cultural history.
Culturally, the name Carlena, while less common than its masculine counterpart, carries connotations of strength and independence, reflecting its etymological roots. The name's association with freedom through its connection to "free man" resonates with themes of empowerment and individuality.
In some traditions, diminutive forms such as Carla or Carlie may be used, but Carlena stands out as a distinct name that encapsulates both historical significance and feminine identity.
Famous people named Carlena
In this section, you will find notable people named Carlena. 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 Carlena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Carlena 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.
Carlena Britch is a dancer and actress best known for her work in the television series So You Think You Can Dance, and the film Step Up: All In.
Carlena Smith is a singer-songwriter best known for her contributions to the indie music scene and her album 'Wanderlust'.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carlena, 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 Carlena. 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 Carlena was first seen in the United States in 1910.
Carlena has ranked as high as #1036 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in California, Alabama, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Carlena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Carlena 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 Carlena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Carlena (1993)
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 | 5 |
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 Carlena.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 9 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 20 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1994 | 19 |
| 1993 | 18 |
| 1992 | 24 |
| 1991 | 16 |
| 1990 | 18 |
| 1989 | 14 |
| 1988 | 19 |
| 1987 | 18 |
| 1986 | 18 |
| 1985 | 22 |
| 1984 | 17 |
| 1983 | 23 |
| 1982 | 23 |
| 1981 | 28 |
| 1980 | 25 |
| 1979 | 21 |
| 1978 | 20 |
| 1977 | 22 |
| 1976 | 18 |
| 1975 | 42 |
| 1974 | 18 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 20 |
| 1971 | 19 |
| 1970 | 15 |
| 1969 | 23 |
| 1968 | 17 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1966 | 18 |
| 1965 | 19 |
| 1964 | 21 |
| 1963 | 21 |
| 1962 | 17 |
| 1961 | 23 |
| 1960 | 16 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 21 |
| 1955 | 8 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1953 | 12 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 11 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1948 | 11 |
| 1947 | 14 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 18 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1938 | 11 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1922 | 9 |
| 1921 | 6 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1918 | 10 |
| 1917 | 6 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1910 | 7 |