What’s In A Name: Arlene Fowler

This is the sixth in our series of articles examining the meanings behind the names of characters on True Blood. For previous articles looking at Sookie, Eric, Alcide, Tara, & Bill click here.

Arlene Fowler

Along with Sookie, Arlene has a distinctly Southern name. Suggested as a shortening of Charlene or Marlene, the name doesn’t hold a meaning of its own. It appears to have been invented by Michael William Balfe for the main character in his opera ‘The Bohemian Girl’ in 1843, although he spelled it Arline. In the opera, Arline is the daughter of an Austrian Count who is kidnapped by Gypsies as an infant. Raised by Gypsies, she falls in love with Polish nobleman in exile. As a teenager, she is reunited with her father who eventually grants her permission to marry her beloved.

I think our Arlene would appreciate the romance and melodrama of her namesake, but it seems unlikely this was the inspiration for the character’s name. More than likely it was chosen because it has strong regional ties to the South.

Her surname of record, Fowler, is a fairly common one and derives from the English word meaning “to hunt wildfowl.” Somehow I think Arlene has hunting experience, don’t you?

Next week: Lafayette Reynolds!