How to say it
CHAR · lee
ˈtʃɑːr.li
Feminine
Charlee
Free
What it means
A feminine respelling of Charlie, the short for Charlotte or Charles, from the Germanic for 'free man.'
Charlee is a feminine respelling of Charlie, the friendly short for Charlotte (and Charles), which goes back to the Germanic for 'free man.' The -ee ending rode the wave of nickname-names-for-girls in the 2010s, when Charlie surged as a girl's name. It is breezy and current, sharing the 'free' root with Charlotte. Charley and Charleigh are the cousins.
How to spell Charlee
The standard spelling is Charlee. Common variants include Charlie, Charley, Charleigh, but Charlee is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #272 in 2021, currently #417 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Charlee is the feminine-styled respelling of Charlie; shares the 'free' root with Charlotte.
Spelling variants
- Charlie
- Charley
- Charleigh
Names with the same feeling
See Charlee from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Charlee mean?
- A feminine respelling of Charlie, the short for Charlotte or Charles, from the Germanic for 'free man.'
- What does Charlee mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Charlee means "Free." Charlee is a feminine respelling of Charlie, the friendly short for Charlotte (and Charles), which goes back to the Germanic for 'free man.' The -ee ending rode the wave of nickname-names-for-girls in the 2010s, when Charlie surged as a girl's name. It is breezy and current, sharing the 'free' root with Charlotte. Charley and Charleigh are the cousins.
- Is Charlee short for Charlotte?
- Yes. Charlee is a short form of Charlotte, and it carries the same meaning, "Free." These days many parents use Charlee as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Charlee?
- Charlee is pronounced ˈtʃɑːr.li. Say it as CHAR-lee, with the stress on the "char" syllable.
- How do you spell Charlee?
- The standard spelling is Charlee. Common spelling variants include Charlie, Charley, Charleigh.
- Is Charlee a boy or girl name?
- Charlee is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Charlee?
- Charlee ranked #417 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.