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Home › Baby Names Directory › Charmian

Charmian

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Charmian

Pronounced KAR-mee-un /ˈkɑr.mi.ən/Medium

Meaning: Charmian derives from the Greek kharma, 'joy, source of delight,' related to charis, 'grace.' It is best known as the name of Cleopatra's loyal handmaiden in Plutarch's Lives and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.Medium

In 30 seconds: Charmian is a Greek-rooted name meaning 'joy, delight,' famous as Cleopatra's handmaiden in Shakespeare. It stayed rare in the United States, peaking around 1970 (said KAR-mee-un).
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Origin MediumGreek, English
MeaningCharmian derives from the Greek kharma, 'joy, source of delight,' related to charis, 'grace.' It is best known as the name of Cleopatra's loyal handmaiden in Plutarch's Lives and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.
U.S. rank (1986)#7879 ↘ Falling
1986 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 473

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197019141986

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Charmian comes from the Greek kharma, 'joy, delight,' related to charis, 'grace.' It reached English literature through Plutarch's account of Cleopatra's court and was immortalized by Shakespeare's handmaiden Charmian in Antony and Cleopatra.

Charmian was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1970, with earliest use recorded back to 1914; it faded from records by the mid-1980s. It reads today as a literary, distinctly British-flavored choice.

Did you know? Charmian appears in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra as the queen's witty, devoted handmaiden, and the name traces to the Greek kharma, the same root behind the word charisma.
Overall data confidence 68%
References - Charmian — Greek 'kharma' joy/delight; Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra handmaiden

Variations

CharmaineCharmionCharmiane

Nicknames

CharMia

Famous Bearers

  • ★Charmian Clift (1923–1969)
    Australian journalist and novelist known for her memoirs of life on the Greek island of Hydra.

If you like Charmian…

Charmaine— a like French-flavored form of the same 'joy' root
Charis— the direct Greek 'grace' root it shares
Charity— a like virtue name of similar sound
Cordelia— a like Shakespearean literary name

Explore names like Charmian

By themevintagegreekliteraryuncommon

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Charmian mean?

It comes from the Greek kharma, meaning 'joy' or 'delight,' related to charis, 'grace.'

How do you pronounce Charmian?

It is said KAR-mee-un /ˈkɑr.mi.ən/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Charmian a boy or girl name?

Charmian is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Charmian?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1970, and it has faded from records since.

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