I'm with you on disliking
Charles and liking
Charlie.
I almost named my son
Charles "
Charlie." Really came pretty close.
I don't think there's anything wrong with using
Charlie on its own. But I personally would not want to be "just"
Charlie even on paper, if I were a guy.
Like, when he gets married and says his full name. It sounds cooler if he says
Charles and not
Charlie. Even though I don't like the name
Charles I think there is some real merit in having the formal name. Sure most Charlies never use it, but some might like to have
Charles for formalities.
And I have known one
Charles who hated
Charlie, and went by
Charles always. If I had thought of him while considering the name, I might have dismissed it!
My son would have been
Charles "
Charlie"
Bruce. I'm not much on making combos. If I had to make up a combo, I'd make up something eccentric or catchy, like
Charlie Raven or
Charlie Marlon.