Names › Boys' names › C › Charles
Charles
Meaning: free man · Origin: Germanic · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
From Germanic karl, 'free man'. Charlemagne (Charles the Great), Charles Darwin and King Charles III bore it.
Famous people named Charles
- Charles Darwin (naturalist)
- King Charles III
- Charles Dickens (novelist)
Nicknames
Charlie, Chuck, Chaz
Variants & related names
Carlos, Carlo, Karl, Karol
Charles name art
A free preview of a printable “Charles” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Charles mean?
Charles means “free man”. It comes from Germanic.
Is Charles a popular name?
Yes — Charles has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Charles?
Charlie, Chuck, Chaz.
What are other forms of Charles?
Carlos, Carlo, Karl, Karol.
Similar names
Frederick · Otis · Richard · Frank · Bruno · Leonard
More: names starting with C · all boys' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.