Fun Facts About the Name Carlos
- An established favorite: Carlos held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 43 consecutive years, from 1970 through 2012.
- More than 309 thousand babies named Carlos: U.S. records list 309,039 babies given the name Carlos from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,040 girls received the name Carlos - about 1 girl for every 150 boys.
What Does the Name Carlos Mean?
Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of the name that appears in English as Charles. It comes from the Germanic name Karl, from a root (*karlaz) meaning "free man" or "man." The Latin form Carolus carried the name into the Romance languages, where it became Carlos. Its literal sense is "free man"; later royal and literary associations belong to the name's history rather than to its etymology, and older explanations that gloss it as "manly" or "strong" are not the usual derivation.
Carlos Name History & Origins
The Germanic name Karl was used among the Franks and other Germanic peoples. Its Latinized form Carolus is the name of Charlemagne, or Carolus Magnus ("Charles the Great," 742 - 814). From that Latin tradition the name spread through medieval Europe; in the Iberian Peninsula it became Spanish and Portuguese Carlos.
Spanish kings named Carlos include Charles I (Carlos I, 1500 - 1558), who also ruled as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, and later monarchs of the Bourbon line. Portugal had several kings named Carlos, among them Carlos I (1863 - 1908). The name also appears in later literature and music: Schiller's play Don Carlos (1787) centers on the historical Carlos, Prince of Asturias (1545 - 1568), and Verdi's opera Don Carlos (1867) is based on Schiller's play.
Through Spanish and Portuguese colonization, Carlos was carried to the Americas, Africa, and Asia. It remains the usual Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of Charles, alongside related forms such as Italian Carlo, French Charles, and Catalan Carles.
How Popular is the Name Carlos?
Carlos remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1970 to 2012. Its highest annual birth count was in 2001, and people born that year turn 25 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #15,635 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #15,755 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #9,963 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #13,773 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #17,284 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #11,440 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #15,773 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #15,860 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #8,821 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #7,976 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #7,143 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #6,946 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #5,711 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #5,222 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #6,260 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #5,704 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #6,114 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #5,050 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1996 | #4,076 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #4,699 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1994 | #4,138 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1993 | #3,230 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1992 | #3,509 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1991 | #2,896 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1990 | #2,650 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1989 | #2,531 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1988 | #2,159 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1987 | #2,442 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1986 | #1,933 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1985 | #3,019 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1984 | #2,307 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1983 | #2,315 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1982 | #2,028 | 51 | 0.0030% |
| 1981 | #2,495 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1980 | #2,132 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 1979 | #2,190 | 45 | 0.0028% |
| 1978 | #1,990 | 48 | 0.0031% |
| 1977 | #1,927 | 51 | 0.0033% |
| 1976 | #2,140 | 40 | 0.0027% |
| 1975 | #1,811 | 51 | 0.0035% |
| 1974 | #1,852 | 47 | 0.0032% |
| 1973 | #1,944 | 42 | 0.0029% |
| 1972 | #2,103 | 37 | 0.0024% |
| 1971 | #1,911 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1970 | #2,587 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1969 | #2,258 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1968 | #2,169 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1967 | #2,500 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1966 | #2,196 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1965 | #2,211 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1964 | #2,537 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #2,714 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #2,742 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #2,200 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #2,157 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #2,881 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,675 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #2,737 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #2,397 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #2,558 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #2,789 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #3,508 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,683 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,127 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1950 | #2,675 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #2,864 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,848 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #4,410 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,053 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #2,076 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1944 | #2,969 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #3,068 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #3,615 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1940 | #2,761 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,950 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1938 | #2,124 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1937 | #2,468 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1936 | #3,418 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #3,813 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #2,766 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1933 | #2,903 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #2,253 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #3,264 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,710 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,458 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1927 | #3,592 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,295 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #4,513 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #4,031 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #4,530 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,556 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,139 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #3,256 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #150 | 2,418 | 0.1416% |
| 2024 | #135 | 2,614 | 0.1524% |
| 2023 | #139 | 2,556 | 0.1496% |
| 2022 | #147 | 2,593 | 0.1486% |
| 2021 | #152 | 2,504 | 0.1432% |
| 2020 | #149 | 2,479 | 0.1437% |
| 2019 | #134 | 2,845 | 0.1586% |
| 2018 | #137 | 2,864 | 0.1578% |
| 2017 | #134 | 3,075 | 0.1662% |
| 2016 | #129 | 3,204 | 0.1689% |
| 2015 | #117 | 3,421 | 0.1785% |
| 2014 | #118 | 3,424 | 0.1783% |
| 2013 | #106 | 3,683 | 0.1947% |
| 2012 | #95 | 4,009 | 0.2114% |
| 2011 | #91 | 4,182 | 0.2202% |
| 2010 | #89 | 4,591 | 0.2393% |
| 2009 | #79 | 5,379 | 0.2712% |
| 2008 | #73 | 6,052 | 0.2967% |
| 2007 | #70 | 6,420 | 0.3094% |
| 2006 | #70 | 6,549 | 0.3187% |
| 2005 | #70 | 6,562 | 0.3286% |
| 2004 | #71 | 6,260 | 0.3154% |
| 2003 | #66 | 6,218 | 0.3148% |
| 2002 | #65 | 6,592 | 0.3395% |
| 2001 | #59 | 6,842 | 0.3522% |
| 2000 | #66 | 6,322 | 0.3219% |
| 1999 | #59 | 6,664 | 0.3471% |
| 1998 | #69 | 5,480 | 0.2867% |
| 1997 | #67 | 5,462 | 0.2897% |
| 1996 | #67 | 5,464 | 0.2885% |
| 1995 | #68 | 5,545 | 0.2913% |
| 1994 | #72 | 5,328 | 0.2758% |
| 1993 | #72 | 5,352 | 0.2729% |
| 1992 | #69 | 5,341 | 0.2674% |
| 1991 | #72 | 5,330 | 0.2638% |
| 1990 | #75 | 5,213 | 0.2538% |
| 1989 | #77 | 4,637 | 0.2317% |
| 1988 | #80 | 4,127 | 0.2156% |
| 1987 | #74 | 4,148 | 0.2222% |
| 1986 | #76 | 4,089 | 0.2220% |
| 1985 | #74 | 4,089 | 0.2212% |
| 1984 | #74 | 3,965 | 0.2197% |
| 1983 | #75 | 3,912 | 0.2182% |
| 1982 | #71 | 4,269 | 0.2353% |
| 1981 | #71 | 4,182 | 0.2335% |
| 1980 | #77 | 4,085 | 0.2290% |
| 1979 | #73 | 4,165 | 0.2419% |
| 1978 | #78 | 3,729 | 0.2271% |
| 1977 | #74 | 3,794 | 0.2309% |
| 1976 | #70 | 3,787 | 0.2413% |
| 1975 | #73 | 3,792 | 0.2428% |
| 1974 | #71 | 3,871 | 0.2462% |
| 1973 | #74 | 3,568 | 0.2289% |
| 1972 | #84 | 3,436 | 0.2119% |
| 1971 | #88 | 3,426 | 0.1937% |
| 1970 | #98 | 3,380 | 0.1819% |
| 1969 | #110 | 2,891 | 0.1617% |
| 1968 | #121 | 2,495 | 0.1436% |
| 1967 | #129 | 2,297 | 0.1317% |
| 1966 | #138 | 2,160 | 0.1211% |
| 1965 | #144 | 2,131 | 0.1146% |
| 1964 | #150 | 2,194 | 0.1101% |
| 1963 | #156 | 2,111 | 0.1039% |
| 1962 | #157 | 2,120 | 0.1025% |
| 1961 | #164 | 2,000 | 0.0942% |
| 1960 | #167 | 1,992 | 0.0934% |
| 1959 | #162 | 1,950 | 0.0914% |
| 1958 | #165 | 1,903 | 0.0897% |
| 1957 | #173 | 1,788 | 0.0829% |
| 1956 | #166 | 1,795 | 0.0849% |
| 1955 | #166 | 1,702 | 0.0826% |
| 1954 | #173 | 1,611 | 0.0790% |
| 1953 | #181 | 1,393 | 0.0706% |
| 1952 | #188 | 1,258 | 0.0647% |
| 1951 | #189 | 1,233 | 0.0655% |
| 1950 | #188 | 1,189 | 0.0664% |
| 1949 | #184 | 1,135 | 0.0640% |
| 1948 | #193 | 1,027 | 0.0585% |
| 1947 | #197 | 1,032 | 0.0564% |
| 1946 | #199 | 867 | 0.0534% |
| 1945 | #200 | 719 | 0.0534% |
| 1944 | #211 | 689 | 0.0506% |
| 1943 | #211 | 698 | 0.0489% |
| 1942 | #221 | 660 | 0.0478% |
| 1941 | #216 | 614 | 0.0500% |
| 1940 | #201 | 659 | 0.0569% |
| 1939 | #212 | 579 | 0.0523% |
| 1938 | #210 | 583 | 0.0526% |
| 1937 | #225 | 531 | 0.0498% |
| 1936 | #217 | 536 | 0.0517% |
| 1935 | #214 | 559 | 0.0537% |
| 1934 | #217 | 559 | 0.0541% |
| 1933 | #208 | 563 | 0.0568% |
| 1932 | #231 | 520 | 0.0498% |
| 1931 | #224 | 545 | 0.0524% |
| 1930 | #222 | 578 | 0.0527% |
| 1929 | #228 | 557 | 0.0518% |
| 1928 | #224 | 583 | 0.0526% |
| 1927 | #242 | 544 | 0.0483% |
| 1926 | #250 | 496 | 0.0447% |
| 1925 | #261 | 471 | 0.0422% |
| 1924 | #269 | 452 | 0.0399% |
| 1923 | #274 | 427 | 0.0390% |
| 1922 | #270 | 441 | 0.0405% |
| 1921 | #283 | 393 | 0.0357% |
| 1920 | #267 | 421 | 0.0396% |
| 1919 | #314 | 312 | 0.0318% |
| 1918 | #295 | 348 | 0.0343% |
| 1917 | #309 | 298 | 0.0322% |
| 1916 | #352 | 234 | 0.0263% |
| 1915 | #309 | 273 | 0.0322% |
| 1914 | #313 | 210 | 0.0321% |
| 1913 | #317 | 160 | 0.0312% |
| 1912 | #341 | 124 | 0.0288% |
| 1911 | #330 | 69 | 0.0305% |
| 1910 | #271 | 82 | 0.0422% |
| 1909 | #292 | 60 | 0.0366% |
| 1908 | #291 | 56 | 0.0363% |
| 1907 | #239 | 74 | 0.0504% |
| 1906 | #283 | 50 | 0.0376% |
| 1905 | #260 | 58 | 0.0438% |
| 1904 | #322 | 38 | 0.0297% |
| 1903 | #295 | 41 | 0.0344% |
| 1902 | #319 | 37 | 0.0302% |
| 1901 | #277 | 38 | 0.0357% |
| 1900 | #360 | 37 | 0.0246% |
| 1899 | #290 | 36 | 0.0339% |
| 1898 | #350 | 30 | 0.0245% |
| 1897 | #353 | 28 | 0.0248% |
| 1896 | #352 | 30 | 0.0251% |
| 1895 | #440 | 20 | 0.0170% |
| 1894 | #368 | 25 | 0.0216% |
| 1893 | #350 | 26 | 0.0231% |
| 1892 | #385 | 24 | 0.0197% |
| 1891 | #443 | 16 | 0.0158% |
| 1890 | #439 | 17 | 0.0153% |
| 1889 | #351 | 25 | 0.0226% |
| 1888 | #343 | 29 | 0.0240% |
| 1887 | #367 | 20 | 0.0197% |
| 1886 | #456 | 16 | 0.0144% |
| 1885 | #318 | 28 | 0.0260% |
| 1884 | #524 | 13 | 0.0114% |
| 1883 | #359 | 22 | 0.0210% |
| 1882 | #400 | 20 | 0.0176% |
| 1881 | #390 | 19 | 0.0189% |
| 1880 | #428 | 17 | 0.0154% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
