What Does the Name Charles Mean?
Charles is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning “free man.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Charles |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Meaning | free man |
| Variants | Charlie, Chuck, Carl, Karl, Carlos |
| Popularity | A perennial US top 10 boys' name in the early-to-mid 20th century; still in the top 50. |
The meaning and origin of Charles
The name Charles means “free man” and has Germanic origins. From the Germanic name Karl meaning 'man' or 'free man', borne by Charlemagne (Charles the Great) and many later European kings. The French form Charles became standard in English after the Norman period.
Variants and related names
Charles is related to several other names you may recognize: Charlie, Chuck, Carl, Karl, Carlos. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Charles?
A perennial US top 10 boys' name in the early-to-mid 20th century; still in the top 50.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Charles mean?+
The name Charles means “free man” and is of Germanic origin.
What is the origin of the name Charles?+
Charles originates from Germanic.
Is Charles a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Charles has trended in the US over time.
Charles by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press