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Jolene

Girl name · 216 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Jolene: 216 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 28 births in 1980.

Jolene is a modern name, crafted in mid-20th-century America as a blend of Jo—often drawn from Josephine or Joanna—and the feminine suffix -lene, popularised by names like Eileen. Its most famous bearer by far is the subject of Dolly Parton’s 1973 chart-topping song “Jolene,” a haunting tale that gave the name instant cultural recognition. While no prominent places carry the name, it shares its root sounds with the Gaelic-derived Eileen, meaning “bright” or “shining.” The spelling Jolene, with one ‘l’, is a common variant. In Scotland, Jolene saw a steady if modest use from the 1970s onward, partly reflecting the song’s enduring global appeal and the broader trend for melodic, two-syllable girls’ names.