Fear of people named Charlotte or Charlie (charlophobia)

Charlophobia is a made-up fear of people named Charlotte or Charlie. As a joke, it plays on the way some people form quick opinions about others based on a name alone.

About this phobia

The word is satire that gently pokes fun at name bias, and it is not a recognised fear. There is no clinical record of it. Where real unease around a particular name does exist, it usually traces back to a person rather than the name itself.

What it feels like

• A smile at the idea of avoiding every Charlie in the office
• A flicker of recognition when a name brings back an old memory
• For some, real tension on meeting someone who shares a name from the past

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

What if a name really does make me anxious?

That usually means the name is linked to someone or something from your past. It might be a reminder of an awkward time or of something more painful. If it relates to someone who treated you badly, a GP or specialist counsellor can help.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices