Charlene (given name)

Charlene
Pronunciation/ɑːrˈln, ʃɑːrˈln/ char-LEEN, shar-LEEN
GenderFemale
Origin
Word/nameFrench, from Germanic
MeaningFree Woman, Free Spirit, Free Thinker
Other names
Variant form(s)Charley/Charlie, Charline, Charlyne, Carla, Charleen, Sharlene, Sharleen
Related namesCharlotte, Carla, Carol, Caroline

Charlene, also spelled Charleen and Charlyne, is a feminine given name, a feminine form of Charles coined in the United States in the nineteenth century; from French Charles, from Old French Charles & Carles, from the Latin Carolus, from and also reinfluenced by Old High German Karl, from the Proto-Germanic *karlaz (lit. "Free Man"/"Free Spirit"/Free Thinker); compare the Old English word churl and the Old German Kerl.