CHARLES  

Gender: M
Origin: French from German
Meaning: "free man"

Popularity in 2008: #63

If a classic can be called an up-and-comer, then Charles is it. This longtime traditional favorite, in the Top 10 till the 1960s, may not reach there again, but it's been resuscitated by many celeb parents, from Jodie Foster to Russell Crowe, honoring a distinguished history dating back to Charlemagne -- the original Charles the Great. And nickname Charlie has taken on a life of its own (for both sexes)

Nicknames & Variations:
Chip, Cholly, Charls, Chaz, Charly, Carl, Charley, Chay, Charlie, Chick, Chas, Carroll, Chazz, Chuck, Chad, Charlton, Cary

International Variations:
Xarles (Basque) Karel (Dutch) Kaarle (Finnish) Charlot (French) Tearlach (Gaelic) Karl (German) Károly (Hungarian) Carlus (Irish) Séarlas (Irish Gaelic) Carlo (Italian) Karol, Carel (Polish) Carlos (Spanish) Siarl (Welsh)

People who like Charles also like:

Alice, Charlotte, Louisa, William, Edward, Victor

Charles is being discussed in our message boards:

• Siblings for Leora and Julian?
• Can anyone relate??
• Alaska or Saskia?
• my newest revised list
• Very long name game! 10 kids!

Read Nameberry blog posts about Charles:

• BRITISH NAMES: Exciting Choices of the Prime Ministers
• MARDI GRAS NAMES: Baby names from the bayou
• PRESIDENT'S DAY NAMES: All the Presidents' children
• TEENS WHO LOVE NAMES (and how they explain it to Mom)
• 1910 BABY NAMES: Testing the 100-year rule