Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Charmaine
GirlEnglish, Greek· “uncertain; possibly from Charmian”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly from Charmian (origin disputed)
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- shar-MAYN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #331 (1952)
- Peak year
- 1952
Meaning and origin of Charmaine
Charmaine is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly from Charmian”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to English and Greek roots.
Charmaine is a name whose origin is uncertain. It may be an elaboration of Charmian, the name of one of Cleopatra's attendants in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, which comes from the Greek charma, delight. It may also have been shaped by the English word charm. The name became widely known in the twentieth century through the popular song Charmaine, recorded by many artists. It is said shar-MAYN, with the stress on the second syllable. Char and Charmy are possible nicknames. The name has a romantic, mid-century feel.
Other spellings with the same sound: Charmain.
Popularity over time
Charmaine first appears in US Social Security records in 1913. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 67 different years, starting in 1927. Its best national rank was #331 in 1952, the same year it reached its highest count of 619 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #698 in 1950, #696 in 1980, #2,284 in 2000, and #5,645 in 2010. Of the 15,375 US girls named Charmaine since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 2,730 babies. Since 2010, 241 more have been named Charmaine.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Glenna, Janette, Louann, Nanci, and Cinda.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Charmaine is usually pronounced shar-MAYN, with two syllables. It has nine letters, starts with C and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Charmain.
Middle names for Charmaine
A few middle names that flow with Charmaine: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Charmaine
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Lists that include Charmaine
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Charmaine mean?
Charmaine is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly from Charmian”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to English and Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Charmaine?
Charmaine has English and Greek roots. Charmaine is a name whose origin is uncertain.
Is Charmaine a popular name?
No. Charmaine was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Charmaine a boy or girl name?
Charmaine is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Charmaine?
Charmaine is usually pronounced shar-MAYN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings