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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Charlene

44 replies

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 13:58

What about Charlene?

Or the French spelling Charline? I think it looks a bit nicer.

I like them both better than Charlotte. But everyone seems to much prefer Charlotte.

Any idea why?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

woodhill · 15/03/2022 21:03

And Dallas - actress Charlene Tilton playing Lucy Ewing in the 80s

DogsAndGin · 15/03/2022 20:58

Charlene sounds very footballers wives / Royle family / Benidorm to me

babyjellyfish · 15/03/2022 09:26

Charlene is very dated and even at the time spoke volumes about your social class. (Which is a shame really because I think it's actually quite a nice name.)

Charlotte is definitely much more of a classic and a much safer option, but that might not be what you are looking for in a name.

If you like the "een" sound, there are lots of other names. I like Marlene, although it can be pronounced both Marleen and Mar-lay-na (which I also think is nice).

Otherwise, some names with the "ine" ending are pronounced this way, including French names such as Delphine and Sandrine.

nee22 · 14/03/2022 20:56

What about Josephine? If you like the -een sound. Josie is cute

Luredbyapomegranate · 14/03/2022 17:16

Oh golly, it's a very undistinguished name from the 80s - and will be forever Neighbours.

I would not do that. Caroline is great though.

Aislinn not dated at all, terrific name - I'd go for that.

I quite like Eadaoin too, but would use the Aedín spelling - it's a bit less of a spelling nightmare than Eadaoin, but much nicer than Aideen which has depressing Maureen/Charlene vibes

RAOK · 13/03/2022 22:59

Charlotte is beautiful.

BungleandGeorge · 13/03/2022 22:28

Aisling is pronounced Ashling isn’t it?

I don’t usually worry about names being ‘dated’ by I’ll make an exception for Charlene! It is very heavily dated to the Kylie period in Neighbours. It’s an ok name though

user1493494961 · 13/03/2022 22:10

Charlotte is classic, Charlene isn't.

woodhill · 13/03/2022 22:09

@CloudPop

Lol

Original poster

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 21:48

Hmmm if the girl on that show was Lenny did she say shar-LENN?
Just wondering.

OP posts:

CloudPop · 13/03/2022 21:20

@woodhill

I've been to Paradise - wasn't that sung by Charlene in the 80s

But I've never been to me

OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 13/03/2022 18:27

OP I know a Charla.... pretty!

PinkBuffalo · 13/03/2022 18:23

The girl next door to me growing up was Charlene
She was nice so I think the name is fine as that is the only association I have with the name 👍

woodhill · 13/03/2022 18:22

I've been to Paradise - wasn't that sung by Charlene in the 80s

CloudPop · 13/03/2022 18:21

@GeneLovesJezebel

I can’t say or think it without putting an Australian accent on.

Me neither

soulinablackberrypie · 13/03/2022 18:19

I've only ever met one Charlene, who I guess would be at least in her late 60s by now. That's not enough data to tie it to a particular era, but she's still the first person I think of when I hear the name, so for me personally it sounds a bit surprising for a baby. I prefer Charlotte anyway, as it is one of my all-time favourite names.

ISmellBurnings · 13/03/2022 17:34

Yes I think the eeen sound is dated.

Aideen is just frumpy. Just reminds me of names that shouldn’t reappear like Maureen or Doreen or Eileen.

toastofthetown · 13/03/2022 16:04

@Snowbell99

Oh, a bit sad that many people dislike it :(

Is -een dated in general to you?

Would Aideen (AY-deen) and Aisling (ASH-leen) sound dated to you too?

Aideen is an anglicisation of Éadaoin, Irish.

No I am not in Ireland at the moment but moving there is a possibility because of my employer.

I pretty universally don't like the -een sound, though Aisling is my favourite name that you've suggested. The fact that people think Charlene is dated doesn't mean it's a bad name, just that people would probably expect a Charlene to be born in the 80s. At the moment the trend is far more for names ending in -a than ending in consonant sounds. And Charlene fits in more with Christine, Jacqueline etc. than names which are popular today. They aren't condemned forever, just out of vogue at the moment. And just because I don't like it (or other posters) it doesn't mean you shouldn't use it if you love it. Some names I love aren't popular on here either

BasiliskStare · 13/03/2022 15:42

I think Aisling is lovely

AreSomeGoldfishJustDicks · 13/03/2022 15:39

My name is Charlene. I don't like it. My partner has a nickname for me and if he ever calls me Charlene I cringe 😁 hope that helps.

It's very dated. I wouldn't use it now.

drawingpad · 13/03/2022 15:36

@ISmellBurnings

I don’t like it. The only Charlene I know calls herself Leni. I don’t like the Leeeeeeeen sound either.

It’s very 80s.

Definitely 80s - Neighbours Charlene was known as Lenny

CremeEggThief · 13/03/2022 15:34

I personally love Aisling, because I know several and most of them are lovely people. It might be seen as a slightly old-fashioned name for a baby now, but so what if you like it?

Lilaclavenders · 13/03/2022 15:33

I like it. Reminds me of Charlene of Monaco

girlmom21 · 13/03/2022 15:29