Charlene

Charlene is a feminine name formed from Charles with the ending -ene. Charles traces to a Germanic word for a man or free person, giving Charlene a place in the same extended family as Charlotte and Caroline. Its particular ending makes it sound distinct from those relatives while keeping a recognizable connection to the Charles at its center.

For families honoring a Charles, Charlene offers a full feminine form rather than simply a nickname. Charlie can serve as a shared everyday shortening, while Char keeps only the opening sound. Charleen and Charline are related spellings worth considering alongside it. The full name combines that established family history with a softer ending that stands comfortably on its own.