Given name & surname · also Germanic
Charlene
“a small, strong woman”
In English use, Charlene has a related form in Sharlene. In French use, Sharlene carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Charlene has a related form in Sharlene. In French use, Sharlene carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Charlene comes from Germanic, and ultimately from Germanic languages.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How it developed
The name was formed by combining parts of other names.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1888. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Charlene through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 134,111
- 382 boys · 133,729 girls
- Most popular year
- 1952
- 3,557 babies
- 2025
- 99
- #1,948 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 99 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,948 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,546 in 1952. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 97,330 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Charlene’s family of names
Charlene is a diminutive of Charles. In English usage, Charlene has a related form in Sharlene. In English usage, Charlene is a feminine form of Charles.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Charlene has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Germanic roots to each of them.
15 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 15
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Charlene
- Charlene, Princess of MonacoZimbabwean-South African former Olympic swimmer; wife of Albert II, Prince of Monacoborn 1978
- Charlene ChoiHong Kong actress and singerborn 1982
- Charlene TiltonAmerican actressborn 1958
- Charlene HoltAmerican actress (1928–1996)
- TweetAmerican singer-songwriter and guitaristborn 1971
- Charlene de Carvalho-HeinekenBritish+Dutch businesswoman, heiress (Heineken International) and billionaireborn 1954
- CharleneAmerican singerborn 1950
- Charlene McKennaIrish actressborn 1984
- Charlene GonzalesBinibining Pilipinas 1994, Top 6 at Miss Universe 1994born 1974
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Charlene, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Charmian
“charming and delightful woman”
>99% girls
Jerilyn
“one who rules with the spear”
>99% girls
Ute
“wielding a spear of the elves” · “fortunate maid of battle”
>99% girls
Uta
“fortunate maid of battle” · “poem”
>99% girls
Hajna
“a woman graced with God's favor”
>99% girls
Éloise
>99% girls
Rolanda
“well-known throughout the land” · “from the renowned land”
1% boys · 99% girls
Thích
“Shakyamuni; Shakra”
—