Charley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Charley is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Charley?
Charley is spelled C-H-A-R-L-E-Y. The name has 7 letters.
Charley at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Charley is derived from Charles, which originates from the Germanic name Karl, meaning “man” or “free man.”
- Origin
- Charley is a variant spelling of Charles that may derive from the Germanic name Karl, commonly associated with the meaning “man” or “free man.”
- Pronunciation
- CHAR-lee · 2 syllables
Charley Popularity in 2025
Rank#760
Recorded Births356
Rank#1,826
Recorded Births87
- Girls usage fell 30 places to #760 and recorded 30 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 7 places to #1,826 and recorded 1 fewer birth 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 Charley Mean?
Charley is derived from Charles, which originates from the Germanic name Karl, meaning “man” or “free man.”
Origin: Charley is a variant spelling of Charles that may derive from the Germanic name Karl, commonly associated with the meaning “man” or “free man.”
How Do You Pronounce Charley?
PronunciationCHAR-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Charley?
- History
- Charley has been used as a given name or nickname related to Charles in English-speaking contexts for several centuries.
Charley 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 | 356 | #760 |
| 2025 | Boys | 87 | #1,826 |
| 2024 | Girls | 386 | #730 |
| 2024 | Boys | 88 | #1,833 |
| 2023 | Girls | 388 | #723 |
| 2023 | Boys | 96 | #1,727 |
| 2022 | Girls | 421 | #700 |
| 2022 | Boys | 86 | #1,852 |
| 2021 | Girls | 480 | #617 |
| 2021 | Boys | 84 | #1,841 |
| 2020 | Girls | 561 | #537 |
| 2020 | Boys | 83 | #1,798 |
| 2019 | Girls | 552 | #551 |
| 2019 | Boys | 86 | #1,790 |
| 2018 | Girls | 553 | #563 |
| 2018 | Boys | 100 | #1,625 |
| 2017 | Girls | 611 | #514 |
| 2017 | Boys | 96 | #1,644 |
| 2016 | Girls | 560 | #557 |
| 2016 | Boys | 79 | #1,875 |
| 2015 | Girls | 604 | #520 |
| 2015 | Boys | 85 | #1,780 |
| 2014 | Girls | 641 | #489 |
| 2014 | Boys | 78 | #1,873 |
When Was Charley 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.
2014 · Girls
641 recorded births
National rank #489
2017 · Girls
611 recorded births
National rank #514
2015 · Girls
604 recorded births
National rank #520
2013 · Girls
578 recorded births
National rank #515
Where Charley 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 Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ID | #308 | 7 |
| KS | #361 | 9 |
| SC | #373 | 13 |
| KY | #443 | 9 |
| CO | #456 | 12 |
| CT | #459 | 6 |
| LA | #477 | 9 |
| UT | #490 | 8 |