Boy
Germanic
1 syllable
Charles
CHARLZ
/tʃɑːrlz/
"The free man" — a name of emperors, kings, and explorers, enduringly regal and timelessly strong
Charles is the English form of the Latin Carolus and Germanic Karl, all meaning 'free man.' It is one of the most historically powerful names in Western civilization — borne by Charlemagne, who united Europe under a Christian empire, and by ten English kings. Charles has been a perennial top-100 name in the United States for centuries and has recently returned to the top 50, driven by its classic appeal and renewed royal associations through King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Quick Facts
Letters7
SyllablesCharles
GenderBoy
OriginGermanic
Root WordKarl
MeaningFree man
PopularityVery Popular
Peak Year1950
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayNovember 4
Nicknames
CharlieChuckChasChazChip
About the Name Charles
Charles means 'free man,' from the Germanic Karl via the Latin Carolus. The concept of freedom and nobility of character has been central to the name's long and illustrious history.
Charles consistently ranks in the top 70 in the US and is popular worldwide. It has been in the top 100 in America for over a century and is experiencing a revival following the coronation of King Charles III.
Charles suggests intelligence, gravitas, and a commanding presence balanced with warmth. The name evokes someone with leadership qualities, intellectual depth, and a natural sense of responsibility and tradition.
Royal and classic names pair perfectly: Charles Edward, Charles William, Charles Henry, or Charles Frederick. Multi-syllable middles create an elegant, dignified full name.
Charles derives from the Latin Carolus and Germanic Karl, ultimately meaning 'free man.' It spread throughout Europe with the influence of Charlemagne and has been a royal and noble name in England since the Norman Conquest.
Charlie is the most popular modern nickname and a hugely popular name in its own right. Chuck and Chas are classic American informal options. Chaz has a cooler, more contemporary feel, and Chip is a old-fashioned American nickname.
Personality of Charles
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Charles
Creativity
72%
Elegance
88%
Independence
82%
Intelligence
88%
Strength
85%
Warmth
78%
Famous People Named Charles
C
Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
King of the Franks and first Holy Roman Emperor who united Western Europe in the 8th–9th centuries
C
Charles Darwin
British naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection in On the Origin of Species
K
King Charles III
King of the United Kingdom since 2022, formerly Prince of Wales for over 50 years
C
Charles Dickens
Victorian novelist and social critic, author of Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations
Middle Names for Charles
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Charles
Charles Edward
Charles William
Charles Henry
Charles James
Charles Frederick
Charles Philip
Charles Thomas
Charles Robert
Charles George
Charles Arthur
Charles Richard
Charles Anthony
Names Similar to Charles
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Charles
742 CE
Charlemagne is born, embedding Karl/Charles as the name of European imperial power
1630
Charles I becomes King of England, beginning a royal tradition that will define the name's prestige
1809
Charles Darwin is born in Shrewsbury, England, later transforming humanity's understanding of life
1812
Charles Dickens is born, becoming the defining literary voice of Victorian England
2022
Prince Charles accedes to the British throne as King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Numerology & Symbolism of Charles
3
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Capricorn
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Royal Blue
💎
Lucky Stone
Sapphire
🌸
Lucky Flower
Lily
Charles Around the World
How Charles is written in different languages and scripts
تشارلز
Arabic
チャールズ
Japanese
Чарльз
Russian
찰스
Korean
查尔斯
Chinese
Κάρολος
Greek
चार्ल्स
Hindi
צ'ארלס
Hebrew
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