Darlene is a unique and distinctive female given name of American origin. It was created by combining the English word "darling" with the French suffix "-ene". The name Darling itself means beloved or dear, suggesting that Darlene translates to "beloved one".
The use of the -ene suffix is thought to have been inspired by popular feminine names ending in this sound, such as Genevieve and Seraphina. This naming trend was particularly prevalent during the Victorian era when many new female names were created by combining two words or adding a suffix to an existing name.
While Darlene may seem like a modern creation due to its rarity, it has actually been used since the early 20th century. Its first recorded usage is in the US Social Security records from 1924. However, despite its vintage roots, Darlene remains relatively uncommon today.
Throughout history, there have been notable figures named Darlene. For instance, Darlene Love is an American singer-songwriter best known for her hit song "(Baby Please Don't Go)" and her contributions to Phil Spector's Christmas album "A Christmas Gift for You". Another notable figure is Darlene Clark Hine, a prominent African-American historian who specializes in the history of black women.
In literature, Darlene also appears as a character name, such as in the novel "A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain" by Robert Olen Butler. Despite its limited usage, Darlene has left its mark on various fields and continues to be recognized for its uniqueness and charm.
The name Darlene has seen a fascinating journey in terms of its popularity over the years in the United States. The statistics provided show the number of births with the name Darlene each year from 1896 to 2023.
In the early years, from 1896 to 1909, the name Darlene was quite rare, with fewer than 20 births per year on average. However, starting from 1910, there was a significant increase in its popularity, with the number of births rising to 30 in 1912 and continuing to grow throughout the following decade.
The 1920s marked a turning point for the name Darlene. It began to gain considerable traction, with over 700 births recorded in 1925, and peaked at 1822 births in 1931. This trend continued into the 1930s, with the number of births exceeding 2000 each year from 1933 to 1936.
The name Darlene reached its zenith in popularity during the 1940s and 1950s. The highest number of births recorded was 8279 in 1958, indicating that Darlene was one of the most popular names for girls during this period.
However, like many other names, Darlene's popularity began to decline after the 1960s. By the 1970s, the number of births had fallen below 1000 per year, and it continued to decrease throughout the subsequent decades.
In recent years, from 2000 onwards, the name Darlene has seen a further decline in popularity. The total number of births with this name has been less than 300 each year, with a record low of 107 births in both 2022 and 2023.
In conclusion, while Darlene was once one of the most popular names for girls in the United States, its popularity has significantly waned over time. Despite this decline, it is essential to remember that every name has its own unique story and charm, making each one special in its own way.