Charlene is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the French word "charlemagne," which means "Charles the king" or "strong and bold king." The name Charlene was popularized in the English-speaking world by actress Charlene Holt, who played the role of Charlene on the television soap opera "The Young and the Restless" from 1973 to 1981. However, its use as a given name predates this period and can be found among French families throughout history. Today, Charlene remains a popular choice for parents seeking a unique yet timeless name for their daughters.
The name Charlene has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States. In the early years of its tracking (from 1888 to 1927), it was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 6 births per year.
However, starting from 1928, there was a notable increase in the number of babies named Charlene. The peak occurred between 1930 and 1945, during which time over 2,000 girls were named Charlene annually, with the highest point reaching nearly 3,500 births in 1946.
After this peak, the popularity of the name started to decline steadily. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, fewer than 3,000 girls were named Charlene each year. This downward trend continued throughout most of the following decades until the late 1980s when it reached around 700 births per year.
From the 1990s onwards, there has been a consistent but gradual decrease in the popularity of the name Charlene. In recent years (2018-2023), fewer than 200 girls are named Charlene annually in the United States. This demonstrates a significant decline from its peak and indicates that the name is now relatively uncommon again.
In total, over the period for which data is available (from 1888 to 2023), there have been approximately 133,511 births of girls named Charlene in the United States.