Jerleen
A feminine name of unknown origin, perhaps a combination of names.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Jerleen. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jerleen today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerleen births was 1927 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerleen. 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 Jerleen is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Jerleens were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jerleen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1927
6 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1949 SSA rank
#4,931
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Jerleen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jerleen from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 12 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jerleen 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 Jerleen 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 Jerleen
The name Jerleen is a unique and intriguing moniker with a rich historical tapestry. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes that inhabited the regions of modern-day Germany and Scandinavia. Derived from the Old Norse root words "jǫr" meaning "horse" and "lina" signifying "flaxen-haired" or "with beautiful hair," Jerleen was initially bestowed upon those possessing striking golden locks, a trait revered by the Norse people.
During the Viking Age, from the late 8th to the late 11th century, the name gained prominence as it was borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Jerleen Eriksdotter, a fearless shieldmaiden who fought alongside her kinsmen during the famous Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Her bravery and prowess on the battlefield were celebrated in the sagas and skaldic poems of the era.
As the centuries progressed, the name Jerleen spread across Europe, carried by the tides of migration and cultural exchange. In the 12th century, a Benedictine nun named Jerleen von Trier gained renown for her exceptional calligraphic skills and her illuminated manuscripts, which adorned the libraries of many monasteries throughout the Holy Roman Empire.
The Renaissance period witnessed the emergence of Jerleen Borgia, a renowned Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts. Born in 1492, she was renowned for her exquisite taste and her patronage of renowned artists such as Raphael and Michelangelo. Her influence on the cultural landscape of Renaissance Italy was profound and enduring.
In the 17th century, Jerleen van Riebeeck, a Dutch navigator and colonial administrator, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Dutch Cape Colony in South Africa. Her leadership and vision for the fledgling settlement were instrumental in laying the foundations for the future growth and development of the region.
The 19th century saw the rise of Jerleen Brontë, the eldest of the famous Brontë sisters. Though overshadowed by the literary achievements of her younger siblings, Charlotte and Emily, Jerleen's poetry and prose offered a unique perspective on the Brontë family's creative genius. Her work, while lesser known, contributed to the rich tapestry of English literature during the Victorian era.
Throughout its long and storied history, the name Jerleen has graced the lives of many remarkable individuals, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and eras. From the fierce warriors of the Viking Age to the patrons of the Renaissance and the pioneers of the colonial era, this name has borne witness to the triumphs, struggles, and enduring legacies of those who have carried it.
People
Jerleen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerleen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jerleen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerleen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerleen 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Jerleen a common name?
We classify Jerleen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 34 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerleen most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerleen was 1927, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerleen is about 78 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 Jerleen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jerleen a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jerleen 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 Jerleen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jerleen 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 Jerleen 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 are named Jerleen?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people share the name Jerleen at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.