Meaning: Its source is Kharmion, a Greek name meaning "Delightful."

Nicknames: Char, Chari and Charma

Alternative Spellings: Charmain, Charmayne and Sharmaine

Variant Forms: Charamy, Charmalique, Charmar, Charmara, Charmeen, Charmene, Charmese, Charmine and Charmisa

Source Forms: Kharmion

Popularity: The name Charmaine ranked 830th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: There are adamant disagreements about this name's relationship to the older form Charmian. Some deny the relationship altogether, and insist that Charmaine derives from an old Roman family name, Carminea.

Others believe it is a modern creation, based on the English word ''charm.''