Holding steady.
Popularity of Charmian since 1914
Babies named Charmian per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1970, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Charmian's real moment was 1923.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 45 |
| 1920s | 93 |
| 1930s | 32 |
| 1940s | 73 |
| 1950s | 36 |
| 1960s | 42 |
| 1970s | 106 |
| 1980s | 46 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Charmian is a name of Greek origin, famously borne by a handmaiden to Cleopatra in Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra. While the name's first recorded use in U.S. Social Security data was in 1914, it has always been rare. Its peak year of usage came in 1923, after which it declined steadily. Over the past decade, the name has remained stable, with fewer than five births per year. Charmian has never ranked in national top 1000 lists, and no states report any significant concentration. Despite its literary pedigree, Charmian remains an uncommon choice, appealing to parents seeking a name with classical roots and a graceful sound.
Charmian is a name of Greek origin, possibly derived from the Greek word 'charma' (joy, delight). In literature, it appears as the name of a handmaiden to Cleopatra in Shakespeare's play 'Antony and Cleopatra' (c. 1607). The name was adopted into English and saw modest use in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1910s and 1920s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Char, Cherry, Mia
Variants: Sharmian
Sibling names for Charmian
Names that share Charmian's style, for a brother or sister.
