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Marie Lanen
Head of parenting sections (baby, pregnancy, family), psychology and beauty
Today’s parents are more likely to choose unisex or gender-neutral names for their children. Discover the unisex name that ranks in the top 20 for girls.
In the book Sociology of first namessociologist Baptiste Coulmont confirms the trend of mixed first names. He also points out that the number of men with these first names is close to that of women. A great example of parity! Doctissimo has chosen to highlight the unisex first name Charlie, which has made it into the top 20 most popular female first names this year.
A blend of elegance and modernity
The name Charlie is directly inspired by the name Charles. The latter draws its origins from the Germanic Karlwhich means “strength”. Charlie is also a derivative of the derivative Charlotte. According to the authors of the book L’Officiel des Prénoms (First Editions), only a handful of French people were born for the first time under this name in 1917. At the time, it was difficult to imagine that Charlie would one day supplant Charles, and that it would become predominantly feminine from 2012. Today, 70% of Charlies born today in France are girls.
And for boys? Long eclipsed by Charles, this first name did not really emerge until the death of Charlie Chaplin in 1977. The publication of game books Where is Charlie ?in 1987, promotes a first peak. It is the success of the film Charlie and the chocolate factory by Tim Burton, adapted from a novel by Roald Dahl, which confirmed its launch in 2005. The hit Like a Hobo by singer Charlie Winston, completes the launch of the first name (the number of its masculine attributions doubled in 2009). A small variation, parents of boys prefer the spelling Charly for their offspring. Thus, in 90% of births, Charly is a boy.
A popular first name
In England and the United States, it was very popular at the beginning of the 20th century, before experiencing a slight decline. However, in recent years, Charlie has regained notoriety, in particular thanks to its common use in the media and popular culture. In France, it regularly figures among the favorite first names of parents, seduced by its soft sound and simplicity. Moreover, Charlie has been the 101st most given female first name in France since the year 2000. This first name is given to nearly one in 170 girls (compared to one in 460 boys) today. Charly, in 146th place, is given to one in 370 boys.
By choosing Charlie, parents opt for a timeless and universal name, capable of crossing eras and adapting to all personalities. Charlie is, without a doubt, a name that still has a bright future ahead of it.
Slideshow: The most beautiful mixed first names