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Lovely, but I'd pronounce it with an SH. But then English isn't my native tongue...

I always thought that was how it was prn too. I like it. However, I think it could be somewhat troublesome as a written character name, or with new acquaintances .. because of the tendency to prn it with a SH sound (due to similarity of Charlotte, Charlene, Charmaine) or a hard CH like Charlie. Also, people hearing it only would tend to think of Carmine.

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-- chazda

I've never heard of that pronunciation before. I don't mind Charmaine (shar-MAIN) but it's not a favourite.

Love it, this pronunciation only.

It's too complicated to pronounce. Trust me. I'm reading 'Antony and Cleopatra' in English at the moment, and we've had a large 'SHAR-mee-an vs. Charmaine' debate, which resolved in agreeing to disagree. KAR-mee-an wasn't even ventured into!
It sounds prettiest to me pronounced SHAR-mee-an, KAR-mee-an sounds like a weird pronounciation of car-man, like someone who works as a valet.

It looks a bit like Charmaine... but not. I definitely prefer Charmian to Charmaine, although I don't know if I really like it. I'd never pronounce it with a hard "K" sound, though, only with a "Ch-" or an "Sh-".

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Shannon

This message was edited 1/1/2005, 4:07 PM

I think it's kind of cool. That was the name of the actress who played Liesel in the Sound of Music (starring Julie Andrews, 1960s). Great movie. :)

Looking at it, I think the the toilet paper brand Charmain. I don't care for it.