Charlean is a unique and beautiful name of American origin. It is believed to have been created by combining the names Charlene and LeAnn. The name Charlene itself has French origins and means "free man" or "strong". While the meaning of LeAnn is not clear, it is thought to be derived from the Irish name Margaret.
The name Charlean first gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. It was a popular choice among African American families, particularly in the Southern states. Today, Charlean remains a relatively uncommon name, but its unique sound and meaning continue to make it an attractive choice for parents looking for something distinctive for their daughter.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Charlean. One of the most famous was Charlean Hughes, a civil rights activist and co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Born in 1940, Hughes became involved in the civil rights movement as a teenager and went on to play a significant role in the fight for racial justice.
Despite its rarity today, Charlean remains a powerful and meaningful name with a rich history. It is a name that embodies strength, uniqueness, and a connection to important social movements of the past. For parents looking for a name that is both distinctive and meaningful, Charlean may be an excellent choice.
The name Charlean has seen a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century, as indicated by the annual birth statistics provided.
From the early years, there were sporadic instances where the name was given to babies. In 1912 and 1914, six and seven girls respectively were named Charlean. This number fluctuated in the following years, reaching a peak of 36 births in 1930.
The period from 1930 to around 1950 was marked by a consistent albeit low-level popularity of the name Charlean. The number of babies named Charlean ranged between 15 and 43 per year during this time, with a slight increase noticed after World War II.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the popularity of the name Charlean started to decline significantly. From a peak of 43 births in 1952, the number fell to just seven in 1971. There was a brief resurgence in the mid-1970s with around 18 births in 1974, but this trend did not continue.
Throughout the late 1970s and most of the 1980s, the name Charlean was given to very few babies each year. This continued until the late 1980s when the number of girls named Charlean started to increase slightly again.
Overall, over the past century, a total of 1289 girls have been named Charlean in the United States. While this name once enjoyed some popularity, it is now quite rare and likely to be given to fewer than ten babies each year.