Meaning
A name that means something.
CA diminutive of Charles, from Germanic karl meaning 'free man'. Used unisex since the 19th century; in recent decades has surged for both girls and boys in the U.S. and U.K.
A name from Germanic · Unisex
Charlie
A diminutive of Charles, from Germanic karl meaning 'free man'. Used unisex since the 19th century; in recent decades has surged for both girls and boys in the U.S. and U.K.
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Popularity over time
215,812 U.S. births recorded
from 1880–2023.
A 143-year arc in numbers.
Popularity · 1880–2023
4,349 births in 2023
1880 1951 2023
Babies named per year Peak year Most recent
Variants & spellings
Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint. 3 ways to spell "Charlie".
Related guides
Read more in the Almanac.
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Famous bearers
People who carry the name Charlie.
- CCharlie Chaplin (silent film comedian)
- CCharlie Parker (jazz saxophonist)
- CCharlie Brown (Peanuts)
Quick answers
People often ask about Charlie.
- What does the name Charlie mean?
- Charlie means a diminutive of Charles, from Germanic karl meaning 'free man'. Used unisex since the 19th century; in recent decades has surged for both girls and boys in the U.S. and U.K.
- Where does the name Charlie come from?
- Charlie is a unisex name of Germanic origin.
- Is Charlie a boy or a girl name?
- Charlie is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 17% of children given the name Charlie are girls and 83% are boys.
- How popular is the name Charlie in 2023?
- Charlie ranks #125 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2022 with 4,451 babies.
- How do you pronounce Charlie?
- Charlie is pronounced CHAR-lee (2 syllables).
- What are common spellings of Charlie?
- Charlie is also written as Charley, Charlee, Charles.
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About this page
Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.