Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Charlotte
GirlFrench, Germanic· “free man”
- Meaning
- free man
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- SHAHR-luht
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2
- US babies 2025
- 13,400
- Best rank
- #2 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Charlotte
Charlotte is a French and Germanic name that means “free man”.
Charlotte is a French feminine form of Charles, which comes from a Germanic word meaning "free man". It entered English use in the seventeenth century and rose to prominence with Queen Charlotte, the German-born wife of King George III, whose name was given to many places, including the city of Charlotte in North Carolina. The novelist Charlotte Brontë, author of Jane Eyre, is another celebrated bearer. The name balances elegance with warmth and has become a favorite across the English-speaking world. Charlie and Lottie are the classic nicknames, and Carlota and Carlotta are forms used in Spanish and Italian.
Popularity over time
Charlotte 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. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #2, and its highest count, 13,400 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #79 in 1920, #80 in 1950, #292 in 1980, #289 in 2000, #46 in 2010, and #2 in 2025. Of the 453,433 US girls named Charlotte since records began, 23% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 78,055 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Eliana, Violet, Ailany, Aurora, and Nora.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Charlotte ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #1 | 560 |
| Ohio | #1 | 551 |
| Virginia | #1 | 460 |
| Tennessee | #1 | 423 |
| Michigan | #1 | 381 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Charlotte is usually pronounced SHAHR-luht, with two syllables. It has nine letters, starts with C and ends in “-te”.
Middle names for Charlotte
A few middle names that flow with Charlotte: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Charlotte
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Lists that include Charlotte
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Charlotte mean?
Charlotte is a French and Germanic name that means “free man”.
What is the origin of the name Charlotte?
Charlotte has French and Germanic roots. Charlotte is a French feminine form of Charles, which comes from a Germanic word meaning "free man".
Is Charlotte a popular name?
Yes. Charlotte ranked #2 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Charlotte a boy or girl name?
Charlotte is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Charlotte?
Charlotte is usually pronounced SHAHR-luht. 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