N
NamyLab

Charles

female
Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Free Man"

From a Germanic root meaning free man, it gained prestige through Frankish and later European royal usage.

Themes:freemancarolingianroyal
RoyalRegalUniqueRare

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Charles

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#11287Ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
#11287

Charles was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
-815

lower than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Charles Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Charles.

11 ideas
Charlie
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Chuck
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Chaz
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char
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chay
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cho
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arly
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chie
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ch
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rles
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lesy
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uh-MAN-duh

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Baby Name Lists That Include Charles

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Charles, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

16 linked lists

Famous Charless

  • C
    Charles Darwin
    English naturalist who developed the theory of evolution
  • C
    Charles Dickens
    Victorian novelist and author of Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol
  • P
    Prince Charles
    King Charles III of the United Kingdom

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Charles mean?
Charles means "Free Man". From a Germanic root meaning free man, it gained prestige through Frankish and later European royal usage.
What is the origin of Charles?
Charles is of Germanic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Charles?
According to the latest SSA data, Charles is currently ranked #11287 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Charles a girl name?
Charles is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Charles?
Popular nicknames for Charles include Charlie, Chuck, Chaz, char, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Charles?
There are many names similar to Charles in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGermanic, French, English
Syllables2
Length7 letters
US Rank#11287
Trend↓ Falling
Starts withC

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Girl Names Like Charles

Charles has Germanic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Germanic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Charles appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Royal Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing French Baby Names and Traditional English Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Charles pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Charles beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.