Charlene

Meaning: Free man
Origin: Variant of Charles (from Germanic)

Nicknames: Charlie, Charley, Charly, Char

Girl's name · #1948 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Charlene belongs to an older America first — it reached #100 back in 1949 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1948. About 134,000 girls have carried it since 1888.

Across the states

See where Charlene is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 7 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Charlene ranks in other countries and regions.

#922 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,308 in France (2025) · #2,301 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,412 in Canada (2024).

Famous Charlenes

Charlene Choi — Hong Kong actress and singer
Charlene Tilton — American actress
Charlène Guignard — French-Italian ice dancer
Charlene Holt — American actress (1928–1996)
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken — British+Dutch businesswoman, heiress (Heineken International) and billionaire

In stories & tradition

Charlene Robinson — Neighbours (TV series)
Charlene Doofenshmirtz — Phineas and Ferb (TV series)
Charlene "Charley" Davidson^fi — Biker Mice from Mars (TV series)

What Charlenes become

Among 185 notable people named Charlene:

Sports figures appear 1.62× more often than among typical names — e.g. Charlene Morett, American field hockey player (born 1957).

Spellings & nicknames

About 2,200 girls a year are given Charlie as their full name and 410 Charley.

Similar names: Charlize · Yvonne · Charlette · Darlene · Diane · Carol

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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