Boy
Germanic / Spanish
2 syllables
Carlos
KAR-lohs
/ˈkɑr.loʊs/
"Free and strong" — the Spanish form of Charles, vibrant with Latin energy and royal heritage
Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles, from the Old Germanic karl meaning free man or strong man. It has been one of the most popular names in the Spanish-speaking world for centuries, associated with kings, saints, and cultural icons. In the United States, Carlos is widely used across Hispanic communities and has become a mainstream American name.
Quick Facts
Letters6
SyllablesCar · los
GenderBoy
OriginGermanic / Spanish
Root WordKarl (Charles)
MeaningFree man, strong man
PopularityPopular
Peak Year1990
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayNovember 4
Nicknames
CarlCarlitoLito
About the Name Carlos
Carlos means free man or strong man, as the Spanish form of Charles, derived from the Germanic karl.
Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Germanic Karl/Charles, deeply embedded in Iberian and Latin American culture.
Carlos is one of the most popular names in the Spanish-speaking world and consistently in the US top 100.
Carlos Antonio, Carlos Miguel, and Carlos Eduardo are vibrant and traditional Spanish combinations.
Carlos suggests passion, warmth, charisma, and a musical soul — qualities associated with its most famous bearers.
The standard Spanish/Portuguese spelling is Carlos. The Italian form Carlo drops the final s.
Personality of Carlos
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Carlos
Creativity
76%
Elegance
78%
Independence
76%
Intelligence
78%
Strength
82%
Warmth
86%
Famous People Named Carlos
C
Carlos Santana
Mexican-American rock guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
C
Carlos Tevez
Argentine football star who played for Manchester United and Juventus
K
King Carlos I of Spain
Also Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who ruled a vast empire in the 16th century
Middle Names for Carlos
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Carlos
Carlos Antonio
Carlos Miguel
Carlos Eduardo
Carlos Alberto
Carlos Fernando
Carlos Luis
Carlos Alejandro
Carlos Javier
Carlos Rafael
Carlos Andres
Names Similar to Carlos
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Carlos
742
Charlemagne lays the foundation for Carlos as the premier royal name in Europe
1516
Carlos I becomes King of Spain, later ruling as Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire
1969
Carlos Santana performs at Woodstock, making the name iconic in rock culture
1990
Carlos peaks in US baby name popularity, driven by the growing Hispanic community
Numerology & Symbolism of Carlos
5
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
7
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Scorpio
5
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Red
💎
Lucky Stone
Garnet
🌸
Lucky Flower
Red Rose
Carlos Around the World
How Carlos is written in different languages and scripts
كارلوس
Arabic
カルロス
Japanese
Карлос
Russian
카를로스
Korean
卡洛斯
Chinese
Κάρλος
Greek
कार्लोस
Hindi
קרלוס
Hebrew
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