Burlene
A feminine name, likely a blend of Beryl and Marlene.
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Burlene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Burlene today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Burlene births was 1940 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Burlene. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Burlene is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Burlenes were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Burlene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1940
9 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1955 SSA rank
#5,923
Tracked since 1929
Popularity
Burlene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Burlene from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 27 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Burlene remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Burlene by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Burlene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Burlene
The name Burlene is a relatively modern invention, likely emerging in the early 20th century as a feminine variation of the male name Burley or Burleigh. The origins of these names can be traced back to Old English, where they derived from the words "burh" meaning "fortified town" or "borough," and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing."
While there are no definitive records of the name Burlene appearing in ancient texts or historical documents prior to the 20th century, it is possible that it was used sporadically in certain regions as a diminutive form of the more common Burley or Burleigh names. However, the earliest recorded examples of the name Burlene seem to date back to the early 1900s in the United States.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Burlene was Burlene Jacobs (1918-2008), an American vaudeville performer and actress who gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s. She appeared in several films and television shows throughout her career, including roles in "The Jackie Gleason Show" and "The Phil Silvers Show."
Another noteworthy Burlene was Burlene Rader (1928-2014), an American politician who served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1995. She was a vocal advocate for education and children's issues during her time in office.
In the field of sports, Burlene Woodard (born 1939) was a former American professional baseball player who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1950s. She was a talented outfielder and helped pave the way for future generations of female athletes.
Burlene Bright (1924-2010) was an American author and educator who wrote several books on topics such as parenting, child development, and family relationships. Her works, including "Losing but Gaining" and "A Cheerful Heart," were widely acclaimed and influential in their respective fields.
Lastly, Burlene Stokes (born 1948) is a contemporary American artist and painter, known for her vibrant and expressive works that often depict scenes from everyday life and the African-American experience. Her paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions and galleries across the United States.
While the name Burlene may not have an extensive historical lineage, these individuals have contributed to its recognition and significance in various fields, leaving a lasting impact on their respective communities and the cultural landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries.
People
Burlene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Burlene as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Burlene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Burlene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Burlene going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Burlene a common name?
We classify Burlene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 69 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Burlene most popular?
The single biggest year for Burlene was 1940, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Burlene is about 81 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Burlene in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Burlene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Burlene in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Burlene still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Burlene in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Burlene can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Burlene?
You can see how many people have the name Burlene on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.