See the results of this poll: Is Charlie still a strong name?
Respondents: 36 (This poll is closed)
- Yes : 28 (78%)
- No: 8 (22%)
I voted no, not because I don’t like [name]Charlie[/name] - because I do - but because I’ve known so many [name]Charlie[/name]/[name]Charley[/name] girls that I don’t think I could call [name]Charlie[/name] strong or masculine anymore. I wouldn’t say it is weak or feminine though, [name]Charlie[/name] is sweet, charming; the shy guy rather than the football player. [name]Hope[/name] this doesn’t put you off, because [name]Charlie[/name] (and just [name]Charlie[/name] - I dislike [name]Charles[/name] a lot!) is really cute. 
I have to agree. I vastly prefer [name]Charlie[/name] on boys, but I don’t think of it as a particularly masculine name. I also dislike the name [name]Charles[/name], but I think some of the other nicknames are more masculine - so my inclination would be to use [name]Charles[/name], call him [name]Charlie[/name] and then switch to another nn in the unlikely event it turns out to be a problem for the kid.
[name]Charles[/name] is not even being considered, for many reasons.
I’m biased, as I have a [name]Charles[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name], but it seems distinctly boyish to me.
It just has such a long history of male usage that I don’t think it will ever cross over to girl territory in the same way that something like the previously male [name]Ashley[/name] did, if you see what I mean.
As I’ve not ever come across a little girl named [name]Charlie[/name] (although I did come across a middle-aged woman named [name]Charlie[/name] today!), it still feels completely masculine to me. I love it for a boy. [name]Charles[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name]'s on my own list. I know [name]Charles[/name] is off the table, but I don’t think just [name]Charlie[/name] is any less masculine. If you want a fuller name, would something like [name]Charlton[/name] or [name]Charleston[/name] appeal? I don’t know if they still hold the negative connotations of [name]Charles[/name]…
Good luck!
Yes.
I know a female [name]Henri[/name] and a female [name]Jamie[/name] and a female [name]Robin[/name] and a female [name]Cory[/name] and a female [name]Jeri[/name] — yet all of those names are still masculine to me. I think it takes more than one generation of people using a masculine name as a nickname for the name to cross over.
I wouldn’t describe [name]Charlie[/name] as “strong”. It’s more down-to-earth and boyish than masculine. I prefer it as a nn for [name]Charles[/name].
I think it is going to the girls. [name]Charles[/name] nn [name]Charlie[/name] is better (I think).
I voted no-but I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Charlie[/name]. I just see it as a softer name. A name I would consider in a heartbeat. But I just don’t see it as a manly mans name
I agree it does have a softer, sweet sound to it, but I don’t think this makes it any less strong. In my opinion, [name]Charlie[/name] reminds me of an all round great guy, masculine, but with a soft spot. As some other people mentioned, [name]Charlie[/name] has such a long history as a male name that it would take many generations for it to truly transition to a girly sounding name.
Hmmmm. I guess perhaps “strong” was the wrong word to use, or perhaps my definition of strong is different. I see names like [name]Jack[/name], [name]Max[/name], [name]James[/name], [name]Alex[/name], [name]Daniel[/name], [name]Luke[/name], [name]Archer[/name], [name]Everett[/name], [name]Fitz[/name], [name]Theodore[/name], [name]Cal[/name], [name]William[/name], [name]Charlie[/name] as “strong” names. I just am looking for a name that is all boy, that’s my concern with it, I guess. That probably sums up my question better. Sorry for the confusion.
I love the name [name]Charlie[/name]… but it’s 100% made of hugs and cuddles. I can’t describe it as ‘strong’ at all. When I was little, all of my teddy bears were named [name]Charlie[/name]. It’s just that sort of name to me.
I absolutely LOVE Charlie on its own. It doesn’t feel particularly “strong”, but he feels like a sweetheart and that what I love about this name.