Darlene is a 20th-century American name from the English word "darling" — *dear one* + the *-lene* suffix. **A top-50 US baby name from 1942 to 1962, peaking at #21 in 1956**. **Darlene Love (born 1941)** — **American singer; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2011) by Bette Midler; her 1963 recording "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is among the most-played holiday songs in America; performed it annually on *Late Show with David Letterman* for 28 years (1986-2014)**; featured prominently in the Oscar-winning documentary *20 Feet from Stardom* (2013). **Darlene Conner** — second daughter on ABC's *Roseanne* (1988-1997) and *The Conners* (2018-2025), played by Sara Gilbert; one of the most-realistic teenage-girl characters in American sitcom history. **Darlene Cates (1947-2017)** — *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* (1993). **Darlene Hard (1936-2021)** — American tennis player; three Grand Slam singles titles; 21 Grand Slam doubles titles. **Darleen** is an alternate spelling. **Darlene Zschech** — Australian worship singer; "Shout to the Lord."
Featured throughout mid-to-late 20th-century American culture.
Darlene reduces to six — the number of dear one.