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Delene

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Delene

Pronounced duh-LEEN /dəˈliːn/Medium

Meaning: Delene is a variant of Darlene, an American name coined from the English word 'darling' plus the fashionable -ene ending. Delene keeps that affectionate sense — 'little darling' or 'dear one' — in a softened, respelled form.Low

In 30 seconds: Delene is a variant of Darlene, from the English word 'darling' (said 'duh-LEEN'). It was a rare mid-century girls' name.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningDelene is a variant of Darlene, an American name coined from the English word 'darling' plus the fashionable -ene ending. Delene keeps that affectionate sense — 'little darling' or 'dear one' — in a softened, respelled form.

U.S. rank (1989)#8954 ↗ Rising

1989 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 838

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Delene reads as a variant of Darlene, which American parents built from the affectionate word 'darling' and the -ene suffix in the early twentieth century. Delene smooths the sound toward De-, in the company of Delores and Delma, and appears in the record mainly around the mid-century.

It was always a small choice — a few dozen girls a year at most around its faint mid-century peak — overshadowed by Darlene. It reads as a tender, dated coinage and has not revived, though its 'darling' root keeps it sweetly evocative.

Did you know? Delene traces back to plain 'darling' — Darlene was coined straight from the endearment, and Delene is one of its softer spin-off spellings.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Delene — variant of Darlene; from English 'darling' + -ene

Variations

DarleneDelaineDalene

Nicknames

DeeLene

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Delene…

Darlene— the parent name, from 'darling'

Delores— a fellow De- vintage girls' name

Charlene— another soft -lene name of the era

Marlene— a like mid-century -lene coinage

Explore names like Delene

By themerare vintage midcentury

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Delene mean?

Delene is a variant of Darlene, from the English endearment 'darling'.

How do you pronounce Delene?

It's said duh-LEEN /dəˈliːn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Delene a boy or girl name?

Delene is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Delene?

Delene is rare, a mid-century variant of Darlene most seen around the mid-twentieth century.