Charlie
Charlie is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free man.
Origin and history
Charlie originated as an English diminutive of Charles, which traces back to the Germanic name Karl. It means 'free man' and has long been used both as a pet form and as a standalone given name. In the United States, Charlie remains a classic, friendly choice for boys.
Popularity in the United States
184,280 babies in the United States have been named Charlie since 1880. It ranks #199 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #176.
States where it is most popular
- GA (12.3 %)
- NC (9.2 %)
- TX (8.6 %)
- AL (7.4 %)
- MS (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7,091 |
| 1890-1900 | 7,261 |
| 1900-1910 | 7,928 |
| 1910-1920 | 19,834 |
| 1920-1930 | 25,176 |
| 1930-1940 | 19,154 |
| 1940-1950 | 18,264 |
| 1950-1960 | 15,282 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,041 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,365 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,465 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,913 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,367 |
| 2010-2019 | 16,490 |
| 2020-2029 | 12,649 |
Famous people named Charlie
- Charlie Chaplin: actor, filmmaker
- Charlie Parker: musician, composer
- Charlie Watts: drummer, musician
Nicknames
Char, Chas
Fun facts
- While originally a pet form of Charles, Charlie has been registered as an independent given name in the U.S. for well over a century.
- Though consistently used for boys, Charlie has also seen widespread adoption as a given name for girls in recent decades.