Charna
A girl's name of Yiddish origin with 554 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Charna hit its peak of 14 births in 1965, post-war optimism and the baby boom were producing the largest generation of Americans in history, and naming trends reflected that era’s values of stability and tradition.
Charna has stayed in use since then, even as naming fashions have shifted around it.
In the most recent SSA release, Charna ranks #13787 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Charna is a girl's baby name of Yiddish origin, from the Slavic charna or czarna meaning 'black.' In Ashkenazi Jewish naming traditions, Charna was used as a Yiddish feminine name, often given to dark-haired daughters or as a translation of the Hebrew Tzvia.
Old-world and distinctly Ashkenazi in character, Charna is a name that carries the memory of Eastern European Jewish communities — warm, specific, and deeply rooted.
EtymologyShow more
Charna is built from 6 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Yiddish naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Charna creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Charna has 66+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1928.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 27 | #12848 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 43 | #13349 | — |
| 2000s | 47 | #13189 | — |
| 1990s | 51 | #9874 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 96 | #6597 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 84 | #5925 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 72 | #5234 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 70 | #4194 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 52 | #4069 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 6 | #3873 | — |
| 1920s | 6 | #4272 | — |
The Story of Charna
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1965, Charna is a Gen X staple. Girls named Charna are most likely born between 1955 and 1975.
How rare is Charna?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Charna — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1928, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1980s with 96 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Charna by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Charna per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(66 years, 1928–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #13787 |
| 2023 | 6 | #13782 |
| 2022 | 8 | #11415 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12407 |
| 2017 | 8 | #11878 |
| 2016 | 6 | #14710 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12071 |
| 2014 | 6 | #14967 |
| 2013 | 6 | #15011 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11456 |
| 2009 | 12 | #9515 |
| 2008 | 9 | #11792 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11834 |
| 2006 | 5 | #17683 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12477 |
| 2001 | 5 | #15833 |
| 1996 | 5 | #13920 |
| 1994 | 9 | #8961 |
| 1993 | 6 | #12069 |
| 1992 | 8 | #9642 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charna a boy's or girl's name?
When was Charna most popular?
How popular is the name Charna?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1928–2024