Arlena as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Arlena

What is the meaning of the name Arlena ?

The baby name Arlena is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ɑrˈliːnə/ (ar-LEE-nə).

Arlena is English in Origin.

Arlena is a modern English feminine name, most often regarded as an elaboration of Arlene or Arlen with the -a ending common in girl names. As with Arlene, its etymology is uncertain: many treat it as a 20th-century invention patterned on -lene/-lena names, while others connect the family to Eileen/Aileen (Irish Eibhlín), itself linked to medieval Aveline or, by folk association, to Helen. Because of these layered links, the meaning is debated and is usually given as “modern coinage” or, by association, “light/bright.”

The name surfaced in print with some style in Agatha Christie’s 1941 novel Evil Under the Sun (Arlena Stuart) and enjoyed modest U.S. usage during the mid-century, though it remains rare today. Variants and related forms include Arlene, Arleen, Arline, and Arlen/Arlyn; diminutives such as Arlie, Arly, and Lena are common nicknames.