Meaning & Origin
A female given name from the Germanic languages; most used in the U.S. in the 1940s.
Charlene is a girl's and boy's baby name of Germanic origin, a feminine form of Charles, from the Old High German Karl, meaning 'free man' or 'man.' The -ene suffix was fashionable in American naming during the mid-20th century.
Charlene had its strongest run in the U.S. from the 1940s through the 1960s, peaking around #48 in 1950. It has a retro warmth — less expected than Charlotte, more vintage than Charley — and is overdue for a quiet comeback.