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Karleen
How to Pronounce Karleen
Pronounced kar-LEEN /kɑːrˈliːn/High
Meaning: Karleen is a K-spelled elaboration of Carleen and Carla, feminine forms of Charles, from the Germanic karl, 'free man'. It carries that meaning of a free, strong person.Medium
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
Karleen is one of the feminine forms of Charles, from the Germanic karl, 'free man', built with the popular -een ending and a stylish initial K. It stands beside Carleen, Carla and Charlene in the Charles family, and appears in United States records from the early twentieth century, warming through the mid-century.
Karleen reached its high point in 1964 and eased off afterward, reading now as a mid-century name worn by women in their sixties. It has stayed a period spelling rather than reviving, sitting with Darleen and Charlene among the -een and -ene names of its generation.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Karleen mean?
Karleen is a feminine of Charles, from the Germanic karl, meaning 'free man'.
How do you pronounce Karleen?
It's said kar-LEEN /kɑːrˈliːn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Karleen a boy or girl name?
Karleen is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Karleen?
Karleen was an uncommon name that crested in the mid-nineteen-sixties and has been quietly rare since.