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Baby names

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

Original poster

Charles and Charlotte?

75 replies

peter887 · 03/09/2026 10:18

We have a 1.5 year old boy named Charlie (Charles), and I'm 20 weeks pregnant with a baby girl.

My husband wants to name her Charlotte with the nickname "Lottie." However, I can't get past the idea that Charlotte is the female version of Charles. I keep telling him it would be like naming our kids Henry and Henrietta.

So... Charlie and Lottie...Charles and Charlotte.... is it weird? Do you like those names together?

OP posts:
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milveycrohn · 04/09/2026 09:07

Please avoid names with the same initials.
My DSis once opened a letter addressed to DB (same initials).
This still reverberates over 50 years later!!!

researchers3 · 04/09/2026 08:59

They're also very regal names - people will assume you're massive royalists!

Sheepsmellnice · 04/09/2026 08:40

Charlotte is nice but I wouldn't choose it if I already had a Charles. Lottie is awful it reminds me of a scullery maid in a period drama.

mathanxiety · 04/09/2026 04:15

No, please don't. Everyone you meet and everyone your son and daughter will meet all their lives will wonder what on earth possessed you.

Charles and Charlotte is 100% weird and also silly.

Your H needs to give his head a wobble. There are thousands of better names out there.

Broonzma · 04/09/2026 04:14

Caroline is also derived from Charles.

Softcream · 04/09/2026 03:51

No, you can't call them Charles and Charlotte, terrible idea.

LivingTheDreamish · 04/09/2026 03:07

I do actually know siblings called Charles and Charlotte but I do think it's weird. They could easily both end up being Charlie (you can't control nicknames).

mumumental · 03/09/2026 23:00

Terribile idea. Why is he so obsessed with?

IaltagDhubh · 03/09/2026 22:36

durdledoris · 03/09/2026 22:19

Blimey you really hate your name don't you? I like it and think there are much worse names out there!

But OP no l don't think you could have a Charles and a Charlotte.

Show quote history

Nah, that was tongue in cheek. Like I said, if it wasn’t my own name, it’s the sort of name I’d like.

Orangebadger · 03/09/2026 22:26

Nope!!

durdledoris · 03/09/2026 22:19

IaltagDhubh · 03/09/2026 11:30

Charlotte is a bloody awful name. You can’t walk down the street for falling over 3 year old Charlottes. Lottie is a crime against names and against any poor child saddled with it. Charles will inevitably become Charlie, so that means that Charlotte wouldn’t have that as an option when she realises how awful her own name is. Don’t do it to her, op.

Before any mums of Charlottes get offended, I’m allowed to say this, I am a Charlotte too. To be honest, I’d probably quite like the name if it wasn’t my own!

Blimey you really hate your name don't you? I like it and think there are much worse names out there!

But OP no l don't think you could have a Charles and a Charlotte.

Firebird83 · 03/09/2026 21:43

Not Charlotte. What about:

Charles “Charlie” and Annabel “Annie”
Charles “Charlie” and Beatrice “Bea”
Charles “Charlie” and Emmeline “Emmie”
Charles “Charlie” and Elizabeth “Betsy”
Charles “Charlie” and Eleanor “Nellie”
Charles “Charlie” and Edith “Edie”
Charles “Charlie” and Florence “Florrie”
Charles “Charlie” and Grace “Gracie”
Charles “Charlie” and Josephine “Josie”
Charles “Charlie” and Esther “Essie”
Charles “Charlie” and Harriet “Hattie”
Charles “Charlie” and Katherine “Kitty”
Charles “Charlie” and Louisa “Lulu”
Charles “Charlie” and Matilda “Tilly”
Charles “Charlie” and Margaret “Maisie”
Charles “Charlie” and Rosanna “Rosie”
Charles “Charlie” and Susannah “Susie”

yonem · 03/09/2026 21:28

Very weird! What about Dorothy nn Dottie? Or Laura nn Lolly?

seahorsessky · 03/09/2026 21:23

ByTipsyShark · 03/09/2026 10:57

I know of someone with a Charlie and Milly (Camilla)

Show quote history

If they're older, say if the parents are 60 and the kids 40, fair enough. If you mean Charlie and Milly are at school with your kids now, and the whole family have always lived in the UK so the parents know about the 90s triangle situation, it does seem a surprising choice.

Sam1000 · 03/09/2026 21:12

Noooo.

fgk12 · 03/09/2026 20:56

You absolutely 100% can’t have a Charles and a Charlotte.

What about

Harriet “Hattie” or “Hettie
Ottilie “Ottie”
Juliet/te “Ettie” or “Lettie”

Others with a similar vibe to Charlotte

Imogen
Florence
Annabel
Isabelle
Edith
Cecily
Beatrice
Penelope
Victoria
Lucy
Eliza
Jessica
Elodie
Amelia
Sophie
Evelyn
Margot

user293948849167 · 03/09/2026 18:05

Yes that would be weird, they are the male/female versions of the same name!

muggart · 03/09/2026 18:01

It’s not fair to call someone charlotte if they don’t have the option of Charlie as a nickname. Lottie is very cutesy and young sounding

pucelleauxblanchesmains · 03/09/2026 17:57

My grandmother and her brother had this (different names though, not actually Charles and Charlotte). But perhaps less odd 100 years ago. And George Foreman had multiple children called George..

DustyMaiden · 03/09/2026 17:49

Just use lottie. Or you will look like a right pair of Charlies.

onyourway · 03/09/2026 17:24

They will end up as Charlie girl and Charlie boy.

ohnonotthisargumentagain · 03/09/2026 15:12

Don’t give them the same initials it gives you administrative headaches!

LittleRobins · 03/09/2026 15:06

We tend to choose our own nicknames, what if she likes Charlie? If you like Lottie then you could just go with that. Charles and Lottie is nice

AgnesMcDoo · 03/09/2026 13:28

Great names.

But not together

Sunbringer · 03/09/2026 13:28

It’s weird. Every Charlotte I know is a ‘Char/Charl’ so you’re more likely to get Charlie and Char.