Carlos Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Carlos is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Carlos?
Carlos is spelled C-A-R-L-O-S. The name has 6 letters.
Carlos at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Carlos is a form of the name Charles, meaning “free man” or “man” from the Germanic root karal.
- Origin
- Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles, a name associated with Germanic origins.
- Pronunciation
- CAR-los · 2 syllables
Carlos Popularity in 2025
Rank#150
Recorded Births2,418
- Boys usage fell 15 places to #150 and recorded 208 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Carlos Mean?
Carlos is a form of the name Charles, meaning “free man” or “man” from the Germanic root karal.
Origin: Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles, a name associated with Germanic origins.
How Do You Pronounce Carlos?
PronunciationCAR-los
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Carlos?
- History
- The name Carlos has been used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries as the equivalent of Charles, appearing in various royal and noble lineages.
Carlos Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2008 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 2,418 | #150 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,626 | #135 |
| 2023 | Girls | 5 | #15,194 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,557 | #139 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5 | #15,306 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,594 | #147 |
| 2021 | Boys | 2,506 | #151 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,480 | #149 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,846 | #134 |
| 2018 | Girls | 10 | #9,806 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,864 | #138 |
| 2017 | Boys | 3,075 | #134 |
| 2016 | Boys | 3,204 | #129 |
| 2015 | Boys | 3,421 | #118 |
| 2014 | Boys | 3,424 | #118 |
| 2013 | Boys | 3,684 | #106 |
| 2012 | Girls | 7 | #13,483 |
| 2012 | Boys | 4,010 | #95 |
| 2011 | Girls | 5 | #16,764 |
| 2011 | Boys | 4,182 | #91 |
| 2010 | Girls | 9 | #11,246 |
| 2010 | Boys | 4,591 | #89 |
| 2009 | Boys | 5,379 | #79 |
| 2008 | Girls | 6 | #15,405 |
When Was Carlos Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2001 · Boys
6,842 recorded births
National rank #59
1999 · Boys
6,665 recorded births
National rank #59
2002 · Boys
6,592 recorded births
National rank #65
2005 · Boys
6,563 recorded births
National rank #70
Where Carlos Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AZ | #49 | 130 |
| TX | #72 | 535 |
| CA | #88 | 442 |
| WY | #89 | 5 |
| NM | #99 | 19 |
| NV | #106 | 29 |
| MD | #124 | 47 |
| FL | #131 | 164 |