US Popularity Rank: 21082

Origin: French

Meaning: Yahweh is God; God is gracious; Pretty

Joelene is a variant spelling of the girl’s name Jolene, made famous by Dolly Parton’s hit 1974 song of the same name. The song describes a woman with green eyes and auburn hair whose “beauty is beyond compare,” causing the name to soar in popularity. If you like the idea of naming baby after a song, few have remained as well-loved through the decades as Jolene! This variant spelling adds an extra “e”, making it appear more like a feminine form of the Hebrew name Joel, meaning “Yahweh is God.” Alternatively, the name may have been invented by adding the popular prefix Jo-, from the Hebrew name John, with the suffix “-lene.” John (or Yochanan in Hebrew) means “God is gracious.” Another theory is that Jolene derives from the French word jolie, meaning “pretty,” which fits well with the lyrics of the song. Whichever origin or meaning you prefer, it’s safe to say that nobody will be able to compete with your little Joelene.