Names That Mean Free

  1. Carlos
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese variation of Charles, which has been used in solid numbers in the US for as long as data has been kept. Carlos has never fallen out of the Top 600, but peaked from the 70s-early 2000s. Today Carlos is still within the Top 200. Notable namesakes include musician Santana, writers Fuentes and Castaneda, and numerous athletes. Carlos Irwin Estevez is the birth name of Charlie Sheen.
  2. Francine
    • Origin:

      French diminutive pet form of Francoise
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a dated midcentury Mad Men feel. But its choice for their daughter by modern glamour couple Casey Neistat and Candice Pool, respectively a video star and a jewelry designer, has made Francine chic again.
  3. Charlize
    • Origin:

      Afrikaans feminization of Charles, French
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Charlize is a name that owes its very life to a star: elegant blond South African actress Charlize Theron. She was named after her father, whose name was Charles. Charlize jumped onto the popularity lists in 2004, the year the actress won the Oscar for lead actress in Monster.
  4. Carlotta
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Charlotte, French diminutive of Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Carlotta has a large measure of finger-snapping charm and substance — despite being a not too pleasant character in The Little Mermaid. Carlotta is also the diva/prima donna in The Phantom of the Opera, and there was an Empress Carlotta of Mexico.
  5. Dermot
    • Origin:

      Irish, Anglicization of Diarmaid
    • Meaning:

      "free from envy"
    • Description:



      Dermot is an appealing, relatively undiscovered Irish mythological hero's name long popular in the Old Country, and imported into the American consciousness by actor Dermot Mulroney. We see it in the next Celtic wave following Connor and Liam.
  6. Cisco
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Spanish Francisco
    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"
    • Description:

      Shortening Francisco somehow makes it sound even cooler. Cisco is also the name of a digital security company.
  7. Lotte
    • Origin:

      German, Scandinavian diminutive of Charlotte
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Lotte is a short form of Charlotte and a name used in its own right in Scandinavia as well as Dutch- and German-speaking countries. It’s unlikely to catch on in the US, where even Lottie hasn’t reached its full potential. Unisex Charlie will remain Charlotte’s nickname of choice for the foreseeable future.
  8. Fran
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frances
    • Meaning:

      "from France or free man"
    • Description:

      This short form has been pretty much replaced by Frankie, however, it could fit in with other clunky but charming names, like Peggy, Bess, and Enid.
  9. Darby
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "from the deer estate"
    • Description:

      Spirited and bubbly, but handsome and preppy too, Darby is a surname style choice that fits in well with the likes of Alby and Lennox.
  10. Fanny
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from France; free man"
    • Description:

      As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now.
  11. Carrie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Carol, English, or Caroline, French"free man"
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Carrie lives on mainly on the screen, as the new/old antiheroine of Stephen King's classic Carrie, as turn-of-the-21st-century diva Carrie Bradshaw of Sex & The City, and as Claire Danes' Emmy-winning character Carrie Mathison of Homeland.
  12. Lollie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Charlotte, Laura, Dolores, and similar
    • Meaning:

      "free man; laurel; lady of sorrows"
    • Description:

      A sweet and rare nickname for Charlotte. Lollie would also work as a short form of other names with a strong L sound, such as Laura, Lauren, Dolores, Lola, Lorelei, Louisa, Elodie, Lois, Ottilie, Olive, Ololade, and beyond. Also spelled as Lolly, it featured in the US Top 1000 back in the late 19th century, and when combined with its alternative spelling, more than 60 girls have received it as a stand-alone since the 2000s.
  13. Francie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from France; free man"
    • Description:

      Francie is one of the most neglected nicknames for Frances, despite having more style value than Franny and Fanny and being more unique than Frankie. We'd love to see it get more use, whether as a Frances short form or as an independent name.
  14. Charlene
    • Origin:

      English feminization of Charles, German and French
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Charlene is a Charlotte variation that, along with similar names like Arlene and Marlene, spiked in popularity in the 1940s and fifties, reaching a high of Number 100 in 1949. Most parents today would prefer one of the note classic versions -- or even nickname Charlie.
  15. Franco
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Francis
    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"
    • Description:

      A classic Italian name still heard in the Italian-American community. Once tainted by the association with the Spanish dictator, it's now more likely to call up actor James Franco.
  16. Françoise
    • Origin:

      French variation of Frances
    • Meaning:

      "from France; free man"
    • Description:

      In France it's sometimes bestowed as a patriotic gesture; in English-speaking places it has an air of genteel sophistication.
  17. Franz
    • Origin:

      German variation of Francis, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"
    • Description:

      Franz is the German equivalent to Francis, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a Franz outside of countries with Germanic origins. In America the name is often associated with celebrated author Franz Kafka, who was born in Prague.
  18. Charlot
    • Origin:

      French nickname for Charles
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      The way the French allude to Charlie Chaplin could make a charming name on its own, or a hip nickname alternate to Charlie or Chuck. It's also used in the Creole community.
  19. Francisca
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Spanish and Portuguese form of Frances or Francesca
  20. Saorla
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "free princess"
    • Description:

      Less known internationally than Saoirse and Orla, but equally appealing, Saorla is also spelled Saorlaith or Saorfhlaith. It combines the elements soer and flaith giving it the meaning "free ruler, free princess".

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