The name Charolette is derived from the French feminine form of the name Charles, which ultimately traces its roots back to the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "warrior". The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and England.

In its early form, the name was spelled as Charlette or Charlotta. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the chronicles of the 12th century, where a noblewoman named Charlotta de Burgundy is mentioned. She was a member of the influential House of Burgundy and lived during the reign of King Louis VII of France.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Charlot, Carlotta, and eventually, Charolette. One notable bearer of the name was Charolette of Savoy, who lived in the 15th century and was the daughter of Louis, Duke of Savoy. She married King Louis XI of France and played a significant role in the political affairs of her time.

In the 16th century, the name Charolette gained further prominence with the birth of Charolette de Bourbon-Montpensier, a French princess and writer who is remembered for her memoirs, which provide valuable insights into the life of the French nobility during the Renaissance period.

Another historical figure who bore the name was Charolette of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lived from 1744 to 1818. She was the Queen consort of the United Kingdom as the wife of King George III. Her reign witnessed significant events such as the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution.

In the literary world, the name Charolette is immortalized in the novel "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, published in 1847. The character of Charolette Brontë, the author's pseudonym, is considered one of the most famous literary figures associated with the name.

Among other notable bearers of the name Charolette throughout history are Charolette Corday, a French Revolutionary who assassinated the Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat in 1793; Charolette Brontë, the English novelist and poet who wrote "Jane Eyre" and "Villette"; and Charolette Cushman, an American actress renowned for her portrayal of male roles on the 19th-century stage.