Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Charles
BoyGermanic, French· “free man”
- Meaning
- free man
- Origin
- Germanic, French
- Pronunciation
- CHAHRLZ
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #48
- US babies 2025
- 5,898
- Best rank
- #4 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Charles
Charles is a Germanic and French name that means “free man”.
Charles comes from the Germanic word karl, meaning "man" and later "free man". Its great early bearer was Charlemagne, whose name means Charles the Great; he was crowned emperor in the West in the year 800. Frankish, French, Spanish and Holy Roman rulers took the name after him. In Britain it belonged to the Stuart kings Charles I and Charles II and to King Charles III. Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin are among its most famous bearers. It feels classic and distinguished, with nicknames such as Charlie, Chuck and Chaz. Charlotte and Caroline are feminine forms.
Other spellings with the same sound: Charls.
Popularity over time
Charles has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #4 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 40,781 were named Charles. In 2025, 5,898 babies were named Charles, and it ranked #48 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #5 in 1920, #9 in 1950, #29 in 1980, #51 in 2000, #63 in 2010, and #48 in 2025. Of the 2,434,659 US boys named Charles since records began, 15% were born in the 1940s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 361,177 babies. Since 2010, 105,149 more have been named Charles.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Larry, Ronald, Richard, Jerry, and William.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Charles ranked highest in District of Columbia, Alaska, and Vermont.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #7 | 34 |
| Alaska | #12 | 28 |
| Vermont | #16 | 16 |
| Alabama | #17 | 129 |
| Maine | #18 | 35 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Charles is usually pronounced CHAHRLZ, with one syllable. It has seven letters, starts with C and ends in “-es”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Charls.
Middle names for Charles
A few middle names that flow with Charles: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Charles
Similar names
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
Miles Boy
MYLZ
Germanic
#44
Myles Boy
MYLZ
English
#100
Hugh Boy
HYOO
“heart, mind, spirit” · Germanic
#732
Jules Unisex
JOOLZ
“French form of Julius” · French
#1,396
Yves Boy
EEV
“yew” · French
#5,598
Louis Boy
LOO-ee
“famous warrior” · French
#249
Albert Boy
AL-burt
“noble and bright” · Germanic
#614
Roger Boy
RAH-jur
“famous spear” · Germanic
#834
Carl Boy
KAHRL
“free man” · German
#1,134
Guy Boy
GY
“uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide'” · French
#1,637
Frederic Boy
FRED-rik
“French form of Frederick; peaceful ruler” · French
#2,953
Lists that include Charles
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Charles mean?
Charles is a Germanic and French name that means “free man”.
What is the origin of the name Charles?
Charles has Germanic and French roots. Charles comes from the Germanic word karl, meaning "man" and later "free man".
Is Charles a popular name?
Yes. Charles ranked #48 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Charles a boy or girl name?
Charles is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Charles?
Charles is usually pronounced CHAHRLZ. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings