Charles Name Meaning
Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Charles.
Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott
If you're looking for a traditional, masculine name that seems to never go out of style, consider using the name Charles. The name Charles is derived from the Old English word ceorl, meaning “free man.” The word ceorl was used to distinguish a free person from a bondsman or slave (thew) and a noble person (eorl).
Origin: Charles is the French spelling of the Germanic name Karl (or Carl).
Gender: Charles is traditionally the masculine form of the name. Feminine variations include Carla, Carlotta, and Charlotte.
Pronunciation: chahrlz
Editor's Note
Although baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. It’s important to select the name that you feel is best suited for your new baby.
How Popular Is the Name Charles?
Charles has been a popular name for boys in the US for over a century. It was in the top 10 boy names from the late 1800s until the mid-1950s, dropping to the No. 11 spot on the most popular baby names for boys list in 1955.
The name dipped in popularity in the second half of the 20th century, but even at its lowest point (No. 63 in 2010), it was still one of the top 100 names. In 2023, Charles ranked as the No. 54 name for boys in America.
Name Variations
Here are just a few of the most common forms of the name Charles.
Masculine forms include:
Carl
Carlito
Carlo
Carlos
Chad
Karl
Karel
Karlo
Karlos
Feminine forms include:
Carla
Carli/Carlie/Carly
Carol/Carole
Caroline/Carolyn
Charlene/Charline
Charli/Charlie/Charlee
Charlize
Karla
Karolina
Similar Names
Similar sounding names to Charles include:
Chad
Chandler
Channing
Other boy names starting with "C" include:
Common Nicknames for Charles
The name Charles lends itself to several great nicknames, including:
Charlie/Charley
Chas/Chaz
Chuck
Chucky/Chuckie
Suggested Sibling Names
Great options for a sibling name for Charles include:
Famous People Named Charles
The name Charles has long been associated with royalty, going back as far as Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, whose name means “Charles the Great.” There have been three kings of England named Charles: Charles I, Charles II, and Charles III. Kings named Charles have also reigned over Austria, Romania, Sardinia, Spain, and Sweden.
Famous Charleses
Charles Addams, American cartoonist known for creating “The Addams Family”
Charles Barkley, American former professional basketball player
Charles Baudelaire, French poet best known for his book of poetry Les Fleurs du mal
Charles Babbage, English mathematician, philosopher, mechanical engineer, and computer scientist
Charles Bronson, American actor known for his role as a crime-fighting vigilante in the Death Wish film series
Charles Bukowski, American poet and novelist
Charles Curtis, American politician who served as Vice President of the United States under President Herbert Hoover
Charles Darwin, English scientist known for his book On the Origin of Species which introduced the theory of evolution
Charles G. Dawes, American politician who served as Vice President of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge
Charles Dickens, English novelist known for immensely popular Victorian-era books such as A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dodgson, English author who published Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland under the pen name Lewis Carroll
Charles W. Fairbanks, American politician who served as Vice President of the United States under President Theodore Roosevelt
Charles Grodin, American actor who appeared in such films as Midnight Run and Beethoven before hosting The Charles Grodin Show on CNBC
Charles Laughton, English actor known for his roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Witness for the Prosecution
Charles Lindbergh, American aviator who was the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
Charles Martinet, American actor known for performing the voices of Mario and other characters in the Super Mario video game series
Charles Harrison Mason, American preacher and founder of the Church of God in Christ
Charles Myer, American major league baseball All-Star second baseman
Charles Mingus, American jazz bassist and composer
Charles Nelson Reilly, American comic actor and game show regular
Charles Sifford, American golfer who was the first African American to play in a PGA tour
Charles M. Schulz, American cartoonist, creator of the comic strip “Peanuts”
Charles R. Schwab, American stockbroker and founder of the Charles Schwab Corporation
Charles Davis Tillman, American musician and pioneer of Southern gospel music
Charles Webb, American novelist, best known as the author of The Graduate
Charles Wesley, American cleric who co-founded the Methodist Church
Charles Wilson, American politician who was the subject of 2007 movie Charlie Wilson's War
Charles Zadok, American businessman, art collector, and patron
Famous Charlies
Charlie Chaplin, English actor, filmmaker, and composer, known for his contributions to silent film
Charlie Daniels, American singer-songwriter known for his number-one country hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
Charlie Parker, American jazz saxophonist whose virtuoso playing and improvisation style revolutionized jazz
Charlie Rose, American television personality, host of the program Charlie Rose on PBS
Charlie Watts, English musician and drummer for the Rolling Stones
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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