Earlena
Noble woman or noblewoman of noble descent.
Name Census estimates that about 81 living Americans carry the first name Earlena. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Earlena today is around 66 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Earlena births was 1926 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Earlena. 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 Earlena is about 66 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Earlenas were born before 1970.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Earlena. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
81
~ 1 in 4,231,535 Americans
Peak year
1926
14 babies that year
Average age
66
years old
1990 SSA rank
#13,585
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Earlena: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Earlena from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 39 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Earlena 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 Earlena 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 Earlena
The name Earlena is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "eorl," meaning "nobleman" or "warrior," combined with the feminine suffix "-ina" or "-ena." It emerged during the medieval period in England, primarily as a feminine form of the masculine name Earl.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Earlena can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Earlina," likely referring to a woman of noble birth or lineage.
In the 12th century, the name Earlena gained popularity among the English aristocracy. It was associated with strength, courage, and nobility, qualities that were highly valued in the medieval era. Earlena de Warenne, born in 1137, was a notable figure who held significant lands and estates in Yorkshire and Surrey.
During the Renaissance period, the name Earlena continued to be used, although its popularity waned somewhat. Earlena Fitzherbert, born in 1737, was a prominent figure in English history as the morganatic wife of King George IV, a marriage that was considered invalid due to her Catholic faith and lower social status.
In the 19th century, the name Earlena experienced a resurgence, particularly among the upper classes in England and the United States. Earlena Philpotts, born in 1819, was an English author and poet who wrote several novels and poems reflecting the social and cultural norms of her time.
Earlena Parkhurst, born in 1868, was an American educator and activist who fought for women's rights and educational reform. She founded the Parkhurst School for Girls in Massachusetts, which aimed to provide a progressive and innovative educational experience for young women.
Throughout history, the name Earlena has carried connotations of strength, nobility, and resilience, reflecting the qualities associated with its Old English roots. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, it remains a unique and distinctive name with a rich historical heritage.
People
Earlena + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Earlena as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Earlena: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Earlena?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 81 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Earlena 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 4,231,535 US residents.
Is Earlena a common name?
We classify Earlena as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 178 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Earlena most popular?
The single biggest year for Earlena was 1926, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Earlena is about 66 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Earlena a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Earlena 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.
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.