Charlotte
Charlotte is a girls' name of French origin meaning “free woman.” It ranked #2 in the United States in 2025. Charlotte is the French feminine form of Charles, meaning 'free woman.'
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how do you pronounce Charlotte?
SHAR-lot
where does the name Charlotte come from?
A French feminine diminutive of Charles, which descends from the Germanic karl meaning free man. The double suffix does real work: -ot makes it small, -e makes it feminine, so the name reads as little free woman rather than simply free woman.
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge boosted its already strong standing. Charlotte Bronte and the beloved children's book 'Charlotte's Web' cemented its literary legacy.
how popular is this name?
Charlotte has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #2 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #2 |
| 2024 | #4 |
| 2023 | #3 |
| 2022 | #3 |
| 2021 | #3 |
| 2020 | #5 |
| 2019 | #6 |
| 2018 | #6 |
| 2017 | #7 |
| 2016 | #7 |
| 2010 | #46 |
| 2000 | #289 |
| 1990 | #287 |
| 1980 | #292 |
| 1970 | #166 |
| 1960 | #151 |
| 1950 | #80 |
| 1940 | #55 |
| 1930 | #75 |
| 1920 | #79 |
| 1910 | #99 |
| 1900 | #110 |
| 1890 | #98 |
| 1880 | #91 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Charlotte fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of George III, carried the name into British public life and gave it to Charlotte in North Carolina. Charlotte Brontë and E. B. White's Charlotte's Web kept it in print. The birth of Princess Charlotte in 2015 gave it a fresh push, and it has sat in the American top ten ever since.
who are famous people named Charlotte?
- Charlotte Bronte (English novelist)
- Princess Charlotte of Wales (British royal)
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman (American feminist writer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Charlotte?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Charlotte?
what names go well with Charlotte?
Sibling names that share Charlotte's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Charlotte
What does the name Charlotte mean?
Charlotte means “free woman”.
What is the origin of the name Charlotte?
Charlotte comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Charlotta, Carlota and Karlotta.
How popular is the name Charlotte?
Charlotte ranked #2 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #2, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Charlotte a boy or girl name?
Charlotte is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Charlotte?
Charlotte is pronounced SHAR-lot, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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