How Many People Are Named Charles?
Complete statistics for the name Charles: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Charles means 'free man' and has been a popular choice for centuries. It's estimated that 1 in 272 Americans today are named Charles, making it a common male name. The majority of people named Charles are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life path number 3 symbolizes creativity and self-expression.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 75All 2,435,792 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1947Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Charles Through the Generations
Over the decades, Charles has seen its peak popularity in 1947 when 40,917 babies were given this name. Today, there are 1,211,558 Charleses living in the US, with a significant portion being over 60 years old. This trend shows how the name has become synonymous with older generations, though it still maintains a presence among younger adults.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Charles
Charles is a male given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form Charles of the Proto-Germanic name ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ or *karilaz, whose meaning was "free man". The Old English descendant of this word was Ċearl or Ċeorl, as the name of King Cearl of Mercia, that disappeared after the Norman conquest of England.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Charles's Old French roots
📄 About the Name Charles
How Many People Have the Name Charles?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 62,686 people in the United States currently share the name Charles. That works out to roughly 1 in every 5,287 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Charles a Common or Rare Name?
Charles is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Charles Mean?
Charles means "free man" and comes from Old French origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Charles in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Charles Most Popular?
The name Charles reached peak popularity in 1947, with 40,917 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Charles?
Approximately 62,686 people named Charles live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 62,686. That works out to roughly 1 in 5,287 Americans.
Is Charles a rare name?
Charles is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 5,287 Americans has this name.
What does the name Charles mean?
Charles means "free man" and comes from Old French origins.
Is Charles more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Charles are male and 1% are female.
When was Charles most popular?
Charles peaked in 1947 with 40,917 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.