Charmaine

My dad named me Sharmaine (the "S" was my mom's suggestion). I've heard it originated in France which I figure explains why my dad, having grown up in a US state originally under French occupation, may have favored that name for me. I've also heard that for the English, it serves as the feminine form of "Charles". During my lifetime (2 months short of 39 years) here in a borderline southern state on the east coast, I've met about 2 other Charmaines--both with different spellings. I've also run into people--enough to actually need both my hands to count them--who've encountered or know(n) a Charmaine. With that information, I can't quite narrow down how popular it is for any particular part of the country. Most of these encounters began in my late 20s.

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As a child, I didn't like it because I found it long and cumbersome, to say or write. But it has a unique ring when spoken so I've never heard someone call another name and me mistakenly think I was called or any sort of name mix up. And I've heard all sorts of word play with it ranging from bad to neutral to good: Charmin (the toilet paper), chow mein, Shar-mean, Shar-man, Charmander (the Pokemon), Charlemagne (the historical figure), champagne, charming. It's difficult to source a nickname out if it, in my opinion so I've only gone by that but there are some clever ones out there: Bad Sharma and Lucky Sharms. Now that I'm older, it's still cumbersome to me but I can appreciate the uniqueness of it.

I think it sounds like "charming" for me but it's still a very pretty name. This is my impression.

Hideous name to call a child tbh, it’s a bit tacky and tasteless.

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Charmaine sounds like chicken chow mein or char su chow mein to me.

I don't like it, it's haughty sounding.

Sounds kind of snobby and a bit tacky. It also reminds me of the Charmander Pokemon.

Charmaine is really nice! I know someone with this name and she is so sweet!

Really surprising to me how it has never been used in France.

Even though this name is kind of dated, I think it's pretty and has a nice ring to it. Kind of nostalgic. I picture the name as Asian, because of people I've known.

My name is Charmaine. It is not ghetto, snobbish, nor comical. Growing up there were never two... Unique in its own way. My name helped me find my voice. Clearly I would state, "no not Charlene, Charmaine, Charm with an "a-i-n-e."

This is my sisters name and my sisters are Jacqueline, Michaela, Mollie, Emily (me), Erika, Dorothea and Harriet. Not Harmonee and Melodee and Princess. She is named after my great-uncle Charles as my mum's aunt who she hated is named Charlotte. She has never been bullied or made fun of ever. We call her Charli so unless you have met a Charmaine don't assume things you don't know.

Sounds like a popular bathroom tissue in the US. Wouldn't like to have people ask me if I was squeezably soft.

Like Charmian, it makes me think of Charmin toilet paper.

Amazingly tacky. I'd expect her sisters to be Chardonnay and Tiarna.

This name is probably supposed to sound elitist, snobby, and over-the-top, but somehow it makes me think of parents trying to pick a sophisticated, elegant name and failing miserably.

I love the sound of this name but I'm not sure about the spelling. Charmaine reminds me of the state of Maine, Charmain reminds me of Main St., Charmein reminds me of chow mein. Charmayne and Charmaen are ok but I don't know.

I have always liked this name since I was a little girl. Pretty and elegant sounding.

I've always thought Charmaine sounded a bit too close to chow mein for my tastes. I can just hear the playground rats going "chicken Charmaine!"