Fun Facts About the Name Charles
- A favorite across generations: Charles stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 2,434,583 boys named Charles from 1880 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Charles's rank fell 4 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 2 million babies named Charles: U.S. records list 2,447,059 babies given the name Charles from 1880 through 2025. Even 12,476 girls received the name Charles - about 1 girl for every 195 boys.
What Does the Name Charles Mean?
Charles is the English and French form of the Germanic name Karl, which is usually explained as "free man" or simply "man." The Germanic word karl is attested in Old High German as "man, husband," in Old Norse as "man," and in Old English as ceorl, a common noun for a freeman of the lowest class or a peasant. The Latinized form Carolus was used for the Frankish rulers named Charles, and it is the immediate source of the French Charles and the English name. The literal sense of the Germanic word is "man" or "free man," not "king" or "warrior"; later explanations that give "manly" or "strong" are interpretive extensions rather than the original meaning.
Charles Name History & Origins
The Germanic personal name Karl was borne by Frankish nobles before it became a royal name. Charles Martel (c. 688 - 741), the Frankish leader who defeated an invading army at Tours in 732, appears in Latin sources as Carolus. His grandson Charlemagne (c. 742 - 814), whose Latin name was Carolus Magnus, ruled a large empire and was crowned emperor in 800; his fame helped spread the name across Europe. From the Latin Carolus came Old French Charles, which passed into Middle English after the Norman Conquest.
In medieval England, Charles remained uncommon, though it was not entirely absent. It was used in noble families in the 15th and 16th centuries. The name is recorded more often in England from the 17th century onward, when the Stuart kings Charles I (reigned 1625 - 1649) and Charles II (reigned 1660 - 1685) bore it. Other European rulers also carried the name, including Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500 - 1558), and several kings of France, Spain, and Sweden (as Karl). The name developed local forms such as Carlos in Spanish, Carlo in Italian, Karl in German and Scandinavian languages, and Karel in Dutch and Czech.
How Popular is the Name Charles?
Charles has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2025.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,583 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #11,287 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #10,472 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #10,557 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #15,729 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #8,062 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #10,650 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #8,246 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #8,912 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #6,969 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #11,081 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #7,747 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #7,842 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #7,902 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #11,376 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #12,522 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #6,858 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #9,666 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #8,334 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #7,216 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #2,932 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2003 | #11,524 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #12,475 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #6,380 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #7,246 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #8,337 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #8,108 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #6,227 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #5,102 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #4,553 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #5,058 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #3,793 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #3,434 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1991 | #3,221 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #2,744 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1989 | #2,080 | 60 | 0.0033% |
| 1988 | #1,494 | 91 | 0.0051% |
| 1987 | #1,546 | 82 | 0.0047% |
| 1986 | #1,475 | 85 | 0.0050% |
| 1985 | #1,270 | 106 | 0.0062% |
| 1984 | #1,180 | 112 | 0.0067% |
| 1983 | #1,114 | 121 | 0.0072% |
| 1982 | #1,133 | 124 | 0.0073% |
| 1981 | #1,264 | 102 | 0.0061% |
| 1980 | #1,162 | 116 | 0.0070% |
| 1979 | #1,062 | 130 | 0.0081% |
| 1978 | #1,104 | 118 | 0.0077% |
| 1977 | #1,316 | 88 | 0.0057% |
| 1976 | #1,124 | 106 | 0.0072% |
| 1975 | #965 | 129 | 0.0088% |
| 1974 | #1,137 | 102 | 0.0070% |
| 1973 | #1,009 | 117 | 0.0080% |
| 1972 | #984 | 122 | 0.0080% |
| 1971 | #903 | 146 | 0.0088% |
| 1970 | #893 | 148 | 0.0085% |
| 1969 | #912 | 135 | 0.0080% |
| 1968 | #906 | 130 | 0.0079% |
| 1967 | #927 | 122 | 0.0074% |
| 1966 | #876 | 131 | 0.0077% |
| 1965 | #870 | 132 | 0.0075% |
| 1964 | #920 | 129 | 0.0068% |
| 1963 | #894 | 137 | 0.0071% |
| 1962 | #965 | 121 | 0.0062% |
| 1961 | #989 | 120 | 0.0059% |
| 1960 | #927 | 132 | 0.0065% |
| 1959 | #837 | 150 | 0.0074% |
| 1958 | #905 | 128 | 0.0064% |
| 1957 | #820 | 153 | 0.0075% |
| 1956 | #793 | 156 | 0.0078% |
| 1955 | #790 | 148 | 0.0076% |
| 1954 | #838 | 126 | 0.0065% |
| 1953 | #779 | 138 | 0.0073% |
| 1952 | #831 | 121 | 0.0065% |
| 1951 | #710 | 151 | 0.0084% |
| 1950 | #693 | 154 | 0.0090% |
| 1949 | #709 | 143 | 0.0084% |
| 1948 | #679 | 150 | 0.0088% |
| 1947 | #726 | 138 | 0.0078% |
| 1946 | #695 | 134 | 0.0085% |
| 1945 | #658 | 125 | 0.0096% |
| 1944 | #615 | 142 | 0.0107% |
| 1943 | #571 | 176 | 0.0126% |
| 1942 | #578 | 163 | 0.0121% |
| 1941 | #563 | 155 | 0.0128% |
| 1940 | #589 | 140 | 0.0122% |
| 1939 | #548 | 149 | 0.0136% |
| 1938 | #572 | 144 | 0.0131% |
| 1937 | #497 | 176 | 0.0165% |
| 1936 | #568 | 133 | 0.0128% |
| 1935 | #528 | 149 | 0.0142% |
| 1934 | #496 | 168 | 0.0161% |
| 1933 | #447 | 209 | 0.0207% |
| 1932 | #469 | 197 | 0.0185% |
| 1931 | #443 | 212 | 0.0199% |
| 1930 | #436 | 237 | 0.0210% |
| 1929 | #409 | 262 | 0.0235% |
| 1928 | #412 | 271 | 0.0235% |
| 1927 | #395 | 303 | 0.0254% |
| 1926 | #451 | 225 | 0.0190% |
| 1925 | #470 | 216 | 0.0177% |
| 1924 | #526 | 186 | 0.0149% |
| 1923 | #570 | 159 | 0.0132% |
| 1922 | #489 | 199 | 0.0166% |
| 1921 | #539 | 176 | 0.0143% |
| 1920 | #564 | 163 | 0.0136% |
| 1919 | #616 | 129 | 0.0114% |
| 1918 | #592 | 144 | 0.0124% |
| 1917 | #612 | 124 | 0.0115% |
| 1916 | #608 | 123 | 0.0118% |
| 1915 | #658 | 101 | 0.0103% |
| 1914 | #672 | 75 | 0.0098% |
| 1913 | #750 | 49 | 0.0078% |
| 1912 | #597 | 67 | 0.0120% |
| 1911 | #689 | 40 | 0.0096% |
| 1910 | #756 | 32 | 0.0081% |
| 1909 | #748 | 29 | 0.0084% |
| 1908 | #712 | 30 | 0.0090% |
| 1907 | #845 | 20 | 0.0063% |
| 1906 | #742 | 24 | 0.0081% |
| 1905 | #781 | 22 | 0.0075% |
| 1904 | #713 | 24 | 0.0087% |
| 1903 | #792 | 19 | 0.0073% |
| 1902 | #673 | 25 | 0.0095% |
| 1901 | #665 | 23 | 0.0096% |
| 1900 | #676 | 28 | 0.0093% |
| 1899 | #646 | 23 | 0.0099% |
| 1898 | #771 | 19 | 0.0073% |
| 1897 | #702 | 20 | 0.0085% |
| 1896 | #1,056 | 10 | 0.0042% |
| 1895 | #578 | 27 | 0.0116% |
| 1894 | #571 | 26 | 0.0117% |
| 1893 | #596 | 23 | 0.0108% |
| 1892 | #505 | 29 | 0.0137% |
| 1891 | #476 | 29 | 0.0156% |
| 1890 | #477 | 30 | 0.0158% |
| 1889 | #468 | 28 | 0.0157% |
| 1888 | #470 | 28 | 0.0157% |
| 1887 | #373 | 33 | 0.0226% |
| 1886 | #462 | 22 | 0.0152% |
| 1885 | #431 | 24 | 0.0180% |
| 1884 | #465 | 19 | 0.0147% |
| 1883 | #452 | 18 | 0.0160% |
| 1882 | #373 | 23 | 0.0213% |
| 1881 | #405 | 17 | 0.0185% |
| 1880 | #520 | 11 | 0.0121% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #48 | 5,898 | 0.3453% |
| 2024 | #51 | 5,593 | 0.3261% |
| 2023 | #54 | 5,415 | 0.3169% |
| 2022 | #50 | 5,934 | 0.3402% |
| 2021 | #50 | 6,003 | 0.3434% |
| 2020 | #46 | 6,243 | 0.3619% |
| 2019 | #52 | 6,403 | 0.3570% |
| 2018 | #53 | 6,663 | 0.3670% |
| 2017 | #48 | 7,189 | 0.3885% |
| 2016 | #52 | 7,125 | 0.3756% |
| 2015 | #50 | 7,204 | 0.3759% |
| 2014 | #51 | 7,360 | 0.3832% |
| 2013 | #57 | 7,025 | 0.3714% |
| 2012 | #62 | 6,945 | 0.3662% |
| 2011 | #61 | 6,985 | 0.3678% |
| 2010 | #63 | 7,105 | 0.3704% |
| 2009 | #64 | 7,284 | 0.3673% |
| 2008 | #63 | 7,288 | 0.3573% |
| 2007 | #62 | 7,452 | 0.3591% |
| 2006 | #60 | 8,013 | 0.3899% |
| 2005 | #56 | 7,932 | 0.3972% |
| 2004 | #56 | 7,652 | 0.3855% |
| 2003 | #57 | 7,695 | 0.3896% |
| 2002 | #58 | 7,208 | 0.3713% |
| 2001 | #55 | 7,283 | 0.3749% |
| 2000 | #51 | 7,524 | 0.3831% |
| 1999 | #50 | 7,525 | 0.3919% |
| 1998 | #48 | 7,848 | 0.4106% |
| 1997 | #49 | 7,656 | 0.4061% |
| 1996 | #43 | 8,247 | 0.4354% |
| 1995 | #44 | 8,478 | 0.4454% |
| 1994 | #43 | 9,018 | 0.4668% |
| 1993 | #44 | 9,856 | 0.5025% |
| 1992 | #43 | 10,470 | 0.5242% |
| 1991 | #38 | 11,336 | 0.5611% |
| 1990 | #38 | 11,999 | 0.5842% |
| 1989 | #36 | 12,245 | 0.6120% |
| 1988 | #37 | 12,108 | 0.6325% |
| 1987 | #35 | 12,176 | 0.6522% |
| 1986 | #34 | 12,625 | 0.6856% |
| 1985 | #34 | 12,899 | 0.6979% |
| 1984 | #33 | 12,942 | 0.7170% |
| 1983 | #33 | 13,213 | 0.7371% |
| 1982 | #31 | 14,311 | 0.7886% |
| 1981 | #31 | 14,428 | 0.8054% |
| 1980 | #29 | 14,958 | 0.8384% |
| 1979 | #28 | 14,807 | 0.8600% |
| 1978 | #27 | 14,845 | 0.9041% |
| 1977 | #26 | 14,743 | 0.8971% |
| 1976 | #26 | 13,923 | 0.8873% |
| 1975 | #25 | 14,578 | 0.9336% |
| 1974 | #23 | 15,151 | 0.9635% |
| 1973 | #23 | 15,751 | 1.0105% |
| 1972 | #23 | 16,969 | 1.0463% |
| 1971 | #22 | 19,851 | 1.1225% |
| 1970 | #21 | 22,412 | 1.2060% |
| 1969 | #19 | 21,664 | 1.2114% |
| 1968 | #20 | 21,569 | 1.2410% |
| 1967 | #20 | 21,290 | 1.2208% |
| 1966 | #20 | 22,251 | 1.2476% |
| 1965 | #20 | 23,500 | 1.2632% |
| 1964 | #17 | 25,903 | 1.2999% |
| 1963 | #16 | 26,762 | 1.3178% |
| 1962 | #15 | 27,588 | 1.3336% |
| 1961 | #13 | 29,196 | 1.3746% |
| 1960 | #13 | 29,665 | 1.3915% |
| 1959 | #11 | 30,796 | 1.4428% |
| 1958 | #11 | 32,243 | 1.5193% |
| 1957 | #11 | 34,282 | 1.5891% |
| 1956 | #11 | 35,239 | 1.6659% |
| 1955 | #11 | 35,361 | 1.7167% |
| 1954 | #10 | 37,467 | 1.8377% |
| 1953 | #9 | 38,420 | 1.9480% |
| 1952 | #9 | 38,865 | 1.9996% |
| 1951 | #9 | 39,408 | 2.0930% |
| 1950 | #9 | 39,097 | 2.1838% |
| 1949 | #9 | 40,047 | 2.2576% |
| 1948 | #9 | 38,678 | 2.2044% |
| 1947 | #9 | 40,779 | 2.2289% |
| 1946 | #9 | 38,212 | 2.3529% |
| 1945 | #7 | 32,467 | 2.4124% |
| 1944 | #7 | 34,663 | 2.5434% |
| 1943 | #7 | 36,630 | 2.5664% |
| 1942 | #7 | 35,855 | 2.5961% |
| 1941 | #6 | 32,739 | 2.6654% |
| 1940 | #6 | 31,690 | 2.7339% |
| 1939 | #6 | 30,786 | 2.7815% |
| 1938 | #6 | 31,152 | 2.8087% |
| 1937 | #6 | 30,521 | 2.8614% |
| 1936 | #6 | 29,100 | 2.8056% |
| 1935 | #6 | 29,982 | 2.8792% |
| 1934 | #7 | 29,791 | 2.8851% |
| 1933 | #6 | 28,990 | 2.9238% |
| 1932 | #6 | 31,093 | 2.9778% |
| 1931 | #6 | 29,933 | 2.8791% |
| 1930 | #6 | 31,867 | 2.9040% |
| 1929 | #5 | 29,929 | 2.7825% |
| 1928 | #5 | 31,244 | 2.8208% |
| 1927 | #5 | 31,941 | 2.8344% |
| 1926 | #5 | 29,521 | 2.6583% |
| 1925 | #5 | 29,580 | 2.6507% |
| 1924 | #5 | 30,460 | 2.6890% |
| 1923 | #5 | 28,966 | 2.6426% |
| 1922 | #5 | 28,839 | 2.6503% |
| 1921 | #5 | 29,242 | 2.6549% |
| 1920 | #5 | 28,309 | 2.6597% |
| 1919 | #5 | 25,192 | 2.5703% |
| 1918 | #5 | 26,921 | 2.6563% |
| 1917 | #7 | 24,143 | 2.6087% |
| 1916 | #6 | 23,612 | 2.6528% |
| 1915 | #7 | 21,960 | 2.5879% |
| 1914 | #7 | 16,937 | 2.5867% |
| 1913 | #7 | 13,190 | 2.5733% |
| 1912 | #7 | 11,070 | 2.5748% |
| 1911 | #7 | 5,725 | 2.5335% |
| 1910 | #7 | 4,784 | 2.4633% |
| 1909 | #7 | 4,029 | 2.4568% |
| 1908 | #7 | 3,929 | 2.5457% |
| 1907 | #6 | 3,884 | 2.6453% |
| 1906 | #6 | 3,607 | 2.7089% |
| 1905 | #5 | 3,608 | 2.7270% |
| 1904 | #6 | 3,406 | 2.6584% |
| 1903 | #5 | 3,213 | 2.6948% |
| 1902 | #5 | 3,361 | 2.7401% |
| 1901 | #5 | 3,049 | 2.8638% |
| 1900 | #5 | 4,098 | 2.7234% |
| 1899 | #5 | 3,147 | 2.9630% |
| 1898 | #5 | 3,557 | 2.8993% |
| 1897 | #5 | 3,341 | 2.9630% |
| 1896 | #5 | 3,639 | 3.0435% |
| 1895 | #5 | 3,633 | 3.0947% |
| 1894 | #5 | 3,788 | 3.2721% |
| 1893 | #5 | 3,723 | 3.3147% |
| 1892 | #5 | 4,319 | 3.5391% |
| 1891 | #5 | 3,640 | 3.5972% |
| 1890 | #5 | 4,061 | 3.6578% |
| 1889 | #5 | 4,199 | 3.7973% |
| 1888 | #5 | 4,591 | 3.7989% |
| 1887 | #5 | 4,031 | 3.9749% |
| 1886 | #5 | 4,533 | 4.0918% |
| 1885 | #5 | 4,599 | 4.2663% |
| 1884 | #5 | 4,802 | 4.1960% |
| 1883 | #4 | 4,826 | 4.6127% |
| 1882 | #5 | 5,091 | 4.4781% |
| 1881 | #5 | 4,636 | 4.6022% |
| 1880 | #4 | 5,348 | 4.8403% |
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.
