Charlee is a unisex given name of recent origin, derived from the traditional Scottish and Irish surname Charlie, which itself evolved from the French name Charles. The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the late 20th century, likely influenced by its usage as a diminutive form of Charlotte. It is often associated with charisma and charm due to its phonetic resemblance to words like 'charmer' and 'charming'. However, it remains distinct from other names such as Charlie or Charly, offering parents a unique option for their child's name.
The name Charlee experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 1980s onwards, with a notable peak occurring around the mid-2010s. After being relatively uncommon (less than 10 births per year) for most of the period between 1981 and 2007, Charlee's usage started to rise steadily from 2008 onwards, reaching its highest point in 2022 with 36 births recorded. Overall, there have been a total of 426 babies named Charlee since 1981.