Jerlene is a unique and beautiful name of American origin. It is a variant spelling of the more common name Geraldine, which is derived from the masculine name Gerard, meaning "spear strong" or "brave with a spear." The name Jerlene is believed to have been created as a feminine form of the name Gerald by adding the suffix "-ene" to create a softer and more feminine sound.
The name Jerlene has not been widely used throughout history, making it quite rare and distinctive. It was likely first used in the United States during the mid-20th century, although its exact origin is difficult to pinpoint due to its rarity. Despite its rarity, Jerlene has been associated with several notable figures throughout history.
One of the most famous Jerlenes is Jerlene Skinner, an American actress who gained popularity for her role in the television series "Gimme a Break!" during the 1980s. Another notable Jerlene is Jerlene Wilson, an American basketball player who played professionally in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 2003 to 2005.
Overall, the name Jerlene is a beautiful and unique choice for a baby girl. Its rarity makes it stand out, while its origins provide a strong and meaningful foundation. Despite its lack of historical significance, Jerlene has been worn by several notable figures throughout history, adding to its allure and charm.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Jerlene in the United States between 1915 and 1988, we can observe several trends over time.
The popularity of the name Jerlene peaked during the late 1930s to early 1940s, with a significant number of babies being named Jerlene each year. Specifically, there were 32 births in both 1935 and 1936, followed by an even higher number of 35 births in 1937. This peak period is notable because it represents the highest numbers of Jerlene births recorded during this time frame.
However, after reaching its zenith around World War II era, the popularity of the name Jerlene began to decline steadily throughout the subsequent decades. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, there were consistently fewer than 30 births per year for girls named Jerlene. This downward trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with annual birth counts ranging from single digits up to a maximum of 18 in 1956.
Interestingly, despite its diminishing popularity as a given name, Jerlene still managed to maintain some level of presence throughout the entire period analyzed. Even during the most recent years for which data is available (1982 and 1988), there were still several births recorded each year for girls named Jerlene – although these numbers remained relatively low compared to previous decades.
In total, over this 73-year span from 1915 to 1988, a cumulative total of 924 babies were named Jerlene at birth in the United States. Although this figure may seem impressive on its own, it is important to consider that these births are spread out across many years and represent only a small fraction of the overall number of births occurring annually during this time period.
Overall, while the name Jerlene experienced periods of popularity followed by decline, it nonetheless managed to maintain a consistent, if modest, presence among newborn girls throughout most of the 20th century in America.