Home › Baby Names Directory › Charna

Charna

♀ Girl

Pronounced CHAR-nuh /ˈtʃɑr.nə/Medium

Meaning: A Yiddish name from a Slavic root meaning 'black; dark' (compare Polish czarna), used for a dark-haired girl. It has long been a traditional name in Ashkenazi Jewish families.Medium

In 30 seconds: A traditional Yiddish name: Charna means 'dark; dark-haired' (said 'CHAR-nuh').

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumYiddish

MeaningA Yiddish name from a Slavic root meaning 'black; dark' (compare Polish czarna), used for a dark-haired girl. It has long been a traditional name in Ashkenazi Jewish families.

U.S. rank (2024)#13787 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1965

Total births (all-time)≈ 554

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Charna is a Yiddish name meaning 'dark' or 'dark-haired,' drawn from a Slavic root (Polish czarna, 'black'). It was a familiar name in Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe and traveled with them. Warm, old, and grounded (said 'CHAR-nuh').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely, chiefly in Jewish families. Rare, traditional, and heritage-rooted.

Did you know? Charna borrows from Slavic — czarna, 'black' — a reminder of how Yiddish gathered words from the languages around it (said 'CHAR-nuh').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Charna — Yiddish 'dark'; Slavic czarna root

Variations

CharneTsharnaCharnie

Nicknames

CharNana

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Charna…

Shayna— a like Yiddish descriptive name

Raizel— a like traditional Yiddish pick

Golda— a like heritage Yiddish choice

Shaina— shares Charna's Yiddish roots

Shana— a fellow Yiddish choice

Explore names like Charna

By themeheritage jewish yiddish traditional

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Charna mean?

Charna is Yiddish for 'dark; dark-haired,' from a Slavic root meaning 'black.'

How do you pronounce Charna?

It's said CHAR-nuh /ˈtʃɑr.nə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Charna a boy or girl name?

Charna is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Charna?

Charna is very rare in the U.S.