How to Pronounce Charles
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Charles name meaning
First Name
2.4m
in the U.S.
since 1880
2.4m
in the U.S.
since 1880
Last Name
61k
in the U.S.
in 2010
61k
in the U.S.
in 2010
Girls
Boys
Meaning and Origin
What does the name Charles mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Charles
User Submitted Origins
English
57%
German
22%
African
10%
American
6%
Hebrew
4%
User Submitted Meanings
- A submission from Australia says the name Charles means "Origin of the name Charles: Charles is derived from the Germanic karl (full-grown, a man), which is a cognate of the Old English ceorl (a man, freeman, peasant). It is a royal name, being borne by ten kings of France as well as by kings of Hungary, Naples, Sardinia, and Wuttemberg" and is of German origin.
- 2 people from the United States and Netherlands agree the name Charles is of German / French origin and means "Free man".
- A user from Australia says the name Charles is of German origin and means "Warrior of god".
- A submission from Zimbabwe says the name Charles means "Person born in times of joy and happiness. It depicts a prince" and is of Zimbabwe origin.
- According to 4 people from all over the world, the name Charles is of English / German origin and means "Warrior".
- According to a user from Virginia, U.S., the name Charles is of English origin and means "Man of courage".
- A user from Michigan, U.S. says the name Charles is of English origin and means "The Man".
- A user from India says the name Charles is of English origin and means "King of france".
- A submission from New York, U.S. says the name Charles means "King" and is of English origin.
- A submission from Australia says the name Charles means "prince in our country" and is of Filipino (Philippines) origin.
International Interest
Also see international interest
Other Dictionary Sources
- A river in eastern Massachusetts that empties into Boston Harbor and that separates Cambridge from Boston
- King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor; conqueror of the Lombards and Saxons (742-814)
- French physicist and author of Charles's law which anticipated Gay-Lussac's law (1746-1823)
- The eldest son of Elizabeth II and heir to the English throne (born in 1948)
- Son of James I who was King of England and Scotland and Ireland; was deposed and executed by Oliver Cromwell (1600-1649)
- King of England and Scotland and Ireland during the Restoration (1630-1685)
- As Charles II he was Holy Roman Emperor and as Charles I he was king of France (823-877)
- King of France who began his reign with most of northern France under English control; after the intervention of Jeanne d'Arc the French were able to defeat the English and end the Hundred Years' War (1403-1461)
- King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
Wiktionary
From French Charles, from Old French Charles, Carles, from Latin Carolus, from and also reinfluenced by Old High German Karl, from Proto-Germanic *karlaz (“free man”); compare the English word churl and the German Kerl.
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
- A patronymic surname.
Charles was also found in the following language(s): Cebuano, French, Norman, Old French, and Swedish
Notable Persons Named Charles
Notable Persons Named Charles
Charles Manson
Charles Manson is a criminal.
Charles Whitman
Charles Whitman is a criminal. Charles is also known as The Texas Tower Sniper.
Sir Charles Chaplin
Sir Charles Chaplin was an actor, director, composer, screenwriter, producer, and editor. His most notable accomplishments were from 1899 to 1976. Charles was given the name Charles Spencer Chaplin on April 16th, 1889 in London, England. He left this life on December 25th, 1977.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was a in the fields of natural history and geology. Charles was given the name Charles Robert Darwin on February 12th, 1809 in The Mount, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. He died on April 19th, 1882.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was a writer. Charles was given the name Charles John Huffam Dickens on February 7th, 1812 in Landport, Hampshire, England. He passed away on June 9th, 1870.
Charles I
Charles I was royalty. He was most prominent from 1625 to 1625. Charles was born as the child of James VI, I, and Anne of Denmark on November 19th, 1600 in Dunfermline Palace, Dunfermline, Scotland. He breathed his last breath on January 30th, 1649.
- Charles BarkleyBasketball Player
- Charles IIRoyalty
- Charlie HunnamActor
- Buddy HollyMusician
- Robert RedfordActor
- Charles BronsonActor
- Joel KinnamanActor
- Chuck BerryMusician
- Charles de GaulleMilitary
- Lewis CarrollWriter
- Charles VRoyalty
- Charles DanceActor
- Charlie DayActor
- Charles BabbageScientist
Notable Persons With the Last Name Charles
Notable Persons With the Last Name Charles
Prince Charles
Prince Charles is royalty. He holds the title Prince of Wales;Duke of Rothesay([[#Titles, styles, honours, arms, Prince of Wales, and Duke of Rothesay. Prince was born as the child of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Elizabeth II on November 14th, 1948 in Buckingham Palace, London, England.
Ray Charles
Ray Charles was a rhythm, blues, soul music, gospel music, country music, jazz, pop music, rock, and roll musician. He plays Piano, Keyboard instrument, and Vocals. He was most active from 1947 to 2001. Ray was given the name Raymond Charles Robinson on September 23rd, 1930 in Albany, Georgia, U.S. He passed away on June 10th, 2004.
RuPaul
RuPaul is a dance-pop, electronic dance music, hi-nrg, house music, contemporary r&b, eurodance, and electro house drag queen, author, singing, songwriter, actor, model (people), and reality television. He was most active from 1985 to present. RuPaul was given the name RuPaul Andre Charles on November 17th, 1960 in San Diego.
Josh Charles
Josh Charles is an actor. He was most active from 1988 to present. Josh was given the name Joshua Aaron Charles on September 15th, 1971 in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles is a football player. His most notable accomplishments were from 2008 to present. Jamaal was born on December 27th, 1986 in Port Arthur, Texas.
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a rhythm, blues, pop music, and soul music musician. He plays Vocals, guitar, and Steelpan. He was most active from 1969 to present. Billy was given the name Leslie Sebastian Charles on January 21st, 1950 in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago.
Common last names for Charles
Ethnicity Distribution
| Ethnicity | Charles | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| █ | White | 33.69% | 64.26% |
| █ | African American | 52.96% | 11.96% |
| █ | Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander | 1.01% | 4.85% |
| █ | American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.07% | 0.69% |
| █ | Two or More Ethnicities | 2.37% | 1.76% |
| █ | Hispanic or Latino | 7.90% | 16.26% |
Of Last Name Charles
People with the last name Charles are most frequently White or African American
Entire United States
Fun Facts about the name Charles
| #9 | Most Popular Boy Names |
| #6 | Fastest Rising Boy Names |
| #9 | Classic Boy Names |