User-created list
Alternatives to Charlotte
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Odette
French, from German
"wealthy"
Odette is the good swan in Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake , a role for which Natalie Portman won an Oscar ---and it would make a particularly sophisticated yet upbeat choice. In fact, it charted in…
Emmeline
Old French form of archaic German Amal
"work"
Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000…
Cordelia
Latin; Celtic
"heart; daughter of the sea"
Cordelia is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, grown-up name for girls that many parents are seeking for their daughters today. The name of King Lear's one sympathetic daughter, Cordelia has both…
Alberta
English, feminine variation of Albert
"noble, bright"
This jazzy old name could make a comeback, the way Josephine and Ella have. In England the name was popularized by Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, after whom her governor…
Calanthe
English from Greek
"Christmas orchid"
If you love Calliope and Callista, you'll love Calanthe, which combines the trendiness of the Greek 'cal' names with the equally fashionable "the" ending (like Xanthe and Evanthe) and a connection to…
Carlette
Carlette is a feminine name that emerged as a diminutive form of Carla or Caroline, which ultimately derive from the Germanic male name Karl, meaning "free man" or "strong." The addition of the…
Carlotta
Italian variation of Charlotte, French diminutive of Charles
"free man"
Carlotta has a large measure of finger-snapping charm and substance — despite being a not too pleasant character in The Little Mermaid . Carlotta is also the diva/prima donna in The Phantom of the…
Cecette
Diminutive of Cecilla
"blind"
A pretty, Frenchified nickname of Cecilia that would work well on its own, perhaps as a reference to an aunt Cece.
Cecile
French feminine form of Cecil
"blind"
Cecile is a fairly common French saint's name, scattered throughout classic French literature--in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in Balzac's Cousin Pons, and Zola's Germinal. Cecile, Cecily and Cecilia…
Cecily
Feminine variation of Cecil
"blind"
Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily…
Chara
Greek
"joy"
Chara is the name of a star in a constellation that represents hunting dogs, recently named as one of the most likely to host extraterrestrial life. Also, Chara is a variation of both Sarah and…
Chariot
Chariot is an uncommon feminine name with fascinating historical connections. Derived from the French word for a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used in ancient warfare and racing, Chariot evokes…
Charlene
English feminization of Charles, German and French
"free man"
Charlene is a Charlotte variation that, along with similar names like Arlene and Marlene, spiked in popularity in the 1940s and fifties, reaching a high of Number 100 in 1949. Most parents today…
Clairette
Clairette is a feminine name of French origin, functioning as a diminutive of Claire (meaning 'clear' or 'bright' from Latin 'clarus'). The suffix '-ette' adds a touch of delicacy and charm, typical…
Claudette
French, feminine variation of Claude
"lame; enclosure"
Once seen as a dated French Claudette-Colbert feminization, along with Annette and Paulette, we can see Claudette moving into a more plausible Colette-Cosette arena. While some may be put off by the…
Clotilde
Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese
"famous in battle"
A romantic rarity, derived from the Old German name Chlotichilda, meaning "famous in battle." Saint Clotilde was a Frankish queen, wife of Clovis I, who played a role in the spread of Christianity.
Constance
English version of Latin Constantia
"steadfastness"
Constance is one of the more subtle of the virtue baby names , but still has quite a prim and proper image. One impediment to its revival has been the decidedly dated nickname Connie, though modern…
Cosette
French literary nickname
"little thing"
Cosette is best known as the heroine of Les Miserables . In the Victor Hugo novel, Cosette was the nickname given to the girl named Euphrasie by her mother. Although Hugo invented the name, some…
Eliette
Eliette is a delicate feminine name of French origin, functioning as a diminutive form of names like Elie (the French version of Elijah) or Elizabeth. The name carries the meaning 'the Lord is my…
Georgette
French, feminine variation of George
Has a musty 1940s feel. Try Georgia -- or Georgiana.
