diff --git a/icu4c/source/common/unames.c b/icu4c/source/common/unames.c
index eb266b8802c..8289fa44e10 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/common/unames.c
+++ b/icu4c/source/common/unames.c
@@ -1819,7 +1819,7 @@ charSetToUSet(uint32_t cset[8], USet* uset) {
     /* build a char string with all chars that are used in character names */
     length=0;
     for(i=0; i<256; ++i) {
-        if(SET_CONTAINS(gNameSet, i)) {
+        if(SET_CONTAINS(cset, i)) {
             cs[length++]=(char)i;
         }
     }