Charles Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Charles is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Charles?
Charles is spelled C-H-A-R-L-E-S. The name has 7 letters.
Charles at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Charles derives from the Germanic word “karal,” meaning “free man.”
- Origin
- Charles is commonly associated with Germanic origins, deriving from terms meaning “man” or “free man.”
- Pronunciation
- charlz · 1 syllable
Charles Popularity in 2025
Rank#9,457
Recorded Births10
Rank#48
Recorded Births5,898
- Girls usage rose 1,665 places to #9,457 and recorded 2 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 3 places to #48 and recorded 285 more 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 Charles Mean?
Charles derives from the Germanic word “karal,” meaning “free man.”
Origin: Charles is commonly associated with Germanic origins, deriving from terms meaning “man” or “free man.”
How Do You Pronounce Charles?
Pronunciationcharlz
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Charles?
- History
- The name Charles has been borne by various historical figures in European history, notably rulers and nobility.
Charles Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 10 | #9,457 |
| 2025 | Boys | 5,898 | #48 |
| 2024 | Girls | 8 | #11,122 |
| 2024 | Boys | 5,613 | #51 |
| 2023 | Girls | 9 | #10,312 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5,421 | #54 |
| 2022 | Girls | 9 | #10,383 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5,934 | #50 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5 | #15,251 |
| 2021 | Boys | 6,010 | #50 |
| 2020 | Girls | 13 | #7,969 |
| 2020 | Boys | 6,249 | #46 |
| 2019 | Girls | 9 | #10,473 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6,406 | #52 |
| 2018 | Girls | 13 | #8,146 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,667 | #53 |
| 2017 | Girls | 12 | #8,776 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7,193 | #48 |
| 2016 | Girls | 17 | #6,901 |
| 2016 | Boys | 7,127 | #52 |
| 2015 | Girls | 9 | #10,866 |
| 2015 | Boys | 7,204 | #50 |
| 2014 | Girls | 15 | #7,636 |
| 2014 | Boys | 7,362 | #51 |
When Was Charles 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.
1947 · Boys
40,781 recorded births
National rank #9
1949 · Boys
40,052 recorded births
National rank #9
1951 · Boys
39,406 recorded births
National rank #9
1950 · Boys
39,095 recorded births
National rank #9
Where Charles 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #7 | 34 |
| AK | #11 | 28 |
| VT | #16 | 16 |
| AL | #17 | 129 |
| ME | #18 | 35 |
| MA | #19 | 200 |
| NH | #20 | 43 |
| GA | #22 | 236 |