Charles

Charles Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

CHARLZ

Meaning of Charles: Charles derives from the Germanic Karl meaning free man, distinguishing a freeborn peasant from a slave or noble. Frankish scribes Latinized the form into Carolus, which French speakers softened into Charles during the Middle Ages, as detailed on etymology records.

US Rank 2024

No. 51

Births

5,593

Peak Year

1880

Charlemagne, crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800 CE, launched the name across European dynasties. Ten subsequent Holy Roman emperors and seven French kings adopted the form, establishing Charles as the most widely worn regnal name across Catholic Europe from the ninth through the 19th century.

English royal usage began with Charles I, crowned in 1625 and executed during the Civil War in 1649, with his son Charles II restored in 1660. The modern British monarchy returned to the name when Charles III acceded to the throne in September 2022 after Queen Elizabeth II's death.

What Does Charles Mean? Origin & Etymology

Per US Social Security Administration records, Charles held a top 15 position every year from 1880 through 1954, an unbroken 75-year run. The name peaked at rank four in 1900, 1901, and 1902, with over 30,000 annual US births during that Edwardian era.

As of 2024, Charles holds rank 51 with 5,593 US births, climbing back after a late 20th-century dip. The name performs strongly across France, Belgium, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, and its status has received a fresh boost from the new British king's 2023 coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Variants across languages include Latin Carolus, French Charles, Spanish Carlos, Italian Carlo, Portuguese Carlos, German Karl, Dutch Karel, Russian Karl, and Czech Karel. Notably, the short forms Charlie, Chas, Chuck, and Chip each function as independent registered names in US records, giving Charles exceptional generative range.

Name day: November 4

How Popular Is Charles?

Numerology & Symbolism of Charles

Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.

C(3) + H(8) + A(1) + R(9) + L(3) + E(5) + S(1) = 30 = 3

Destiny number

Expression

Sum of all letters, reduced to a single digit

Soul urge

Love

Sum of vowels only - reveals inner desires

Expression

Warmth

Sum of consonants - how others perceive you

Letters 7

Vowels / consonants 2 / 5

Birthstone Citrine

Lucky color Yellow

1 Leadership Independent, driven, original — the initiator who forges new paths.

2 Harmony Diplomatic and cooperative, thriving through partnership and balance.

3 Expression Creative and communicative, bringing joy through art and words.

4 Stability Disciplined and dependable, building lasting structures through hard work.

5 Freedom Adventurous and adaptable, drawn to change, travel, and new experiences.

6 Nurturing Caring and responsible, focused on home, family, and community.

7 Wisdom Analytical and introspective, seeking truth through study and reflection.

8 Ambition Authoritative and goal-oriented, excelling in business and material achievement.

9 Compassion Humanitarian and idealistic, driven by a desire to serve and uplift others.

11 Intuition Master number: heightened sensitivity and spiritual insight beyond the ordinary.

22 Master Builder Master number: visionary practicality that turns ambitious dreams into reality.

33 Master Teacher Master number: selfless guidance and healing offered for the good of all.

Charles – Similar Names & Alternatives

Henry

From Old High German “Haimric”: “haim” (home) + “ric”…

William

From Old High German “Willahelm”: “wil” (will) + “helm”…

is a short form of alexander

Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity

Frequently Asked Questions about Charles

What does Charles mean?

Charles means free man or strong man, from Old High German karl. Charlemagne (Charles the Great, 742-814) carried the name to its first great historical height, unifying much of Western Europe.

What is the origin of Charles?

Charles derives from Old High German karl. Charlemagne gave it imperial European prestige. Two English kings, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, and King Charles III sustain its cultural range.

How popular is Charles in the US?

Charles ranks 51 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It ranked in the US top 10 from 1880 to 1957. Charles has ranked in the top 60 continuously since SSA records began in 1880.

What are variants of Charles?

Variants include Charlie, Chuck, Chaz (English nicknames), Carlo (Italian), Carlos (Spanish/Portuguese), Karl (German), and Karel (Czech). Charlie ranks separately in the US top 100.

Is Charles more popular for girls or boys?

Charles is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 51 for boys in the US in 2024. Charlotte is the principal feminine form, ranking 4 for girls in 2024.

Charles – Name Variants & Spellings

Variant	Language
Karel	Czech/Dutch/Flemish
Charlie	English diminutive
Chuck	English informal
Karl	German/Scandinavian
Carlo	Italian
Carolus	Latin
Karolis	Lithuanian
Karol	Polish/Slovak
Carlos	Spanish/Portuguese

AK No. 53 AL No. 20 AR No. 87 AZ No. 109 CA No. 104 CO No. 50 CT No. 32 DC No. 21 DE No. 20 FL No. 86 GA No. 27 HI No. 72 IA No. 61 ID No. 54 IL No. 30 IN No. 50 KS No. 43 KY No. 33 LA No. 45 MA No. 14 MD No. 56 ME No. 37 MI No. 41 MN No. 30 MO No. 29 MS No. 20 MT No. 70 NC No. 33 ND No. 92 NE No. 46 NH No. 20 NJ No. 55 NM No. 114 NV No. 114 NY No. 62 OH No. 43 OK No. 67 OR No. 50 PA No. 54 RI No. 36 SC No. 23 SD No. 45 TN No. 28 TX No. 92 UT No. 45 VA No. 31 VT No. 17 WA No. 45 WI No. 39 WV No. 62 WY No. 65