Charles
Peaked at #4 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Charles has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Charles descends from the Germanic "Karl," meaning "free man," and reached English through the French form Charles, itself tied to the Latin Carolus made famous by Charlemagne. The name spread widely across European royal houses in the Middle Ages and remains a staple monarchical name today.
Notable people & culture
England has had three kings named Charles, most recently King Charles III, and the French emperor Charlemagne ("Charles the Great") shaped much of medieval Europe. Literary and cultural bearers include novelist Charles Dickens, naturalist Charles Darwin, and musician Ray Charles. Common nicknames are Charlie, Chuck, and Chas.
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Charles — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#373
in 1882
Current rank
#11287
in 2024
Years tracked
144
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Charles reached its peak popularity for girls in 1882, ranking #373 nationally with 23 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #7747 (2014) to #11287 (2024) — a 31% drop.
As of 2024, Charles ranks #11287 nationally for girls, with 8 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,287 | 8 |
| 2023 | #10,472 | 9 |
| 2022 | #10,557 | 9 |
| 2021 | #15,729 | 5 |
| 2020 | #8,062 | 13 |
| 2019 | #10,650 | 9 |
| 2018 | #8,246 | 13 |
| 2017 | #8,912 | 12 |
Charles — Boys (United States)
StablePeak rank
#4
in 1880
Current rank
#51
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Stable
Charles was already at its most popular for boys in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #4), with 5,348 babies given the name that year.
As of 2024, Charles ranks #51 nationally for boys, with 5,593 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #51 | 5,593 |
| 2023 | #54 | 5,415 |
| 2022 | #50 | 5,934 |
| 2021 | #50 | 6,003 |
| 2020 | #46 | 6,243 |
| 2019 | #52 | 6,403 |
| 2018 | #53 | 6,663 |
| 2017 | #48 | 7,189 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Charles most popular?
Charles was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #4 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Charles becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently stable, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Charles?
At least 2,441,151 babies have been recorded with the name Charles in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Charles? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.