Charlena is a unique and captivating feminine given name of African origin. It is derived from the Ashanti people of Ghana, West Africa, who named their daughters Charlena to honor the god Chaleh, also spelled Chales, the Ashanti deity associated with agriculture and fertility.
The name Charlena has no specific meaning in English, but it carries deep cultural significance within the Ashanti community. As a deity-related name, Charlena is believed to bring blessings of abundance, prosperity, and good fortune upon its bearer.
In the historical context, the practice of naming children after deities was common among many African cultures as a way to invoke divine protection, wisdom, and guidance throughout their lives. Thus, parents who chose the name Charlena for their daughter hoped that she would embody the positive attributes associated with the god Chaleh.
Today, Charlena remains a distinctive and powerful name, often preferred by those seeking a unique identity or connection to African heritage. Although it may not be as widely recognized as some other names, its rich history and cultural significance make Charlena an attractive choice for parents looking for something special and meaningful.
The name Charlena has a varied history of popularity in the United States, with fluctuations in the number of babies given this name each year. Between 1903 and 2015, there were a total of 1809 births registered for girls named Charlena.
Looking at the statistics year by year, we can see that the name was relatively uncommon during the early decades of the 20th century, with fewer than 15 births each year from 1903 to 1932. However, the number of babies named Charlena began to increase in the late 1930s and reached a peak in the mid-1940s, with over 20 births registered each year between 1941 and 1955.
The name's popularity continued to rise throughout the 1950s and 1960s, reaching its highest point in 1963 with 35 births. This trend continued into the early 1970s, with over 20 births each year between 1968 and 1974.
However, after the mid-1970s, the popularity of the name Charlena began to decline steadily. Between 1975 and 2015, there were fewer than 30 births registered for girls named Charlena in any given year, with some years seeing as few as five or six births.
Despite this decrease in popularity, the name Charlena remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for something different for their daughters. Its history of popularity over the past century demonstrates that it has stood the test of time and continues to be a meaningful option for many families.