Charlene sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Charlotte, Darlene, and Marlene are the closest matches by sound. Most share Charlene's French-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"free woman"
"blind, heaven's gate"
"pure, clear"
"princess, queen"
"traveler through the forest"
"dark beauty"
"the pepper plant or its fruit"
"Irish form of Joan/Jean"
"God is gracious"
"charming, lovable"
"farmer, earth worker"
"white, fair, blessed"
"princess"
"strong in work, industrious strength"
"light, illuminated"
"pure"
"rose of Mary"
"free woman"
"dweller near the reed meadow"
"determined protector, will to protect"
"from the ash tree farm"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Charlene — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Germanic via French origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Charlene.
Rhythm: Charlene is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.