Charles
Charles is a boys' name of French origin meaning “free man.” It ranked #48 in the United States in 2025. The French form of the Germanic name Karl, from a word meaning free man.
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how do you pronounce Charles?
CHARLZ
where does the name Charles come from?
From the French form of the Germanic name Karl, Latinized as Carolus, which goes back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning free man. The same word survives in English as churl and in German as Kerl. Unusually for a Germanic name it is a single word, not a compound of two elements.
Charlemagne, Charles the Great, made it a name of kings, and it has since been borne by rulers of France, England, Spain and Sweden.
the history of Charles
Charlemagne, Charles the Great, made it a royal name, and in several Slavic languages his name became the ordinary word for king. Behind the Name notes that it became common in Britain only in the seventeenth century, under the Stuart king Charles I. In the United States Charles ranked in the top ten every year from 1880 to 1954 and has stayed in the top 100 every year since.
how popular is this name?
Charles has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #4 in 1880, and ranked #48 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #48 |
| 2024 | #51 |
| 2023 | #54 |
| 2022 | #50 |
| 2021 | #50 |
| 2020 | #46 |
| 2019 | #52 |
| 2018 | #53 |
| 2017 | #48 |
| 2016 | #52 |
| 2010 | #63 |
| 2000 | #51 |
| 1990 | #38 |
| 1980 | #29 |
| 1970 | #21 |
| 1960 | #13 |
| 1950 | #9 |
| 1940 | #6 |
| 1930 | #6 |
| 1920 | #5 |
| 1910 | #7 |
| 1900 | #5 |
| 1890 | #5 |
| 1880 | #4 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Charles fell outside the top 1,000.
what are the nicknames and variants of Charles?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Charles?
- Charles Darwin (naturalist)
- Charles Dickens (novelist)
- Charles III (King of the United Kingdom)
- Charles de Gaulle (French general and statesman)
what names are similar to Charles?
what names go well with Charles?
Sibling names that share Charles's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Charles
What does the name Charles mean?
Charles means “free man”.
What is the origin of the name Charles?
Charles comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Carl, Karl, Carlos and Karel.
How popular is the name Charles?
Charles ranked #48 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #4, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Charles a boy or girl name?
Charles is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Charles?
Charles is pronounced CHARLZ, with 1 syllable.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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