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Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language and French language speaking countries. It is from the French form Charles of the Proto-Germanic (in runic alphabet) or *karilaz (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "free man". The Old English descendant of this word was Churl or Ċeorl, as the name of King Cearl of Mercia, that disappeared after the Norman conquest of England.
The name was notably borne by Charlemagne (Charles the Great), and was at the time Latinized as Karolus (as in Vita Karoli Magni), later also as Carolus.
Some Germanic languages, for example Dutch language and German language, have retained the word in two separate senses. In the particular case of Dutch, Karel refers to the given name, whereas the noun kerel means "a bloke, fellow, man".
In the form Charles, the initial spelling ch- corresponds to the palatalization of the Latin group ca- to tʃa in Central Old French (Francien) and the final -s to the former subjective case (cas sujet) of masculine names in Old French like in Giles or James (< Latin -us, see Spanish/ Portuguese Carlos).
According to Julius Pokorny, the historical linguist and Indo-Europeanist, the root meaning of Charles is "old man", from Indo-European *, where the ĝ is a palatal consonant, meaning "to rub; to be old; grain." An old man has been worn away and is now grey with age.
In some Slavic languages, the name Drago (and variants: Dragomir, Dragoslav, etc., all based on the root drag 'dear') has been used as an equivalent for Charles ( Karel, etc.). This is based on the false etymology deriving Carl from Latin language carus 'dear'. Examples are the Slovene politician Karel Dežman (1821–1889), also known as Dragotin Dežman, and the Slovene historian Dragotin Lončar (1876–1954), baptized Carl.
Charles Martel, the son of Pepin of Herstal and Alpaida, was either illegitimate or the product of a bigamous marriage, and therefore indeed a "free man", but not of noble rank. After his victory at the Battle of Soissons (718), Charles Martel styled himself Duke of the Franks. Charles' eldest son was named Carloman (754), a rare example of the element carl- occurring in a compound name. The Chronicle of Fredegar names an earlier Carloman as the father of Pepin of Landen, and thus the great-great-grandfather of the Charles Martel. This would place the name Carloman in the 6th century, and open the possibility that the Frankish name Carl may originate as a short form of Carloman. The only other compound name with the Carl- prefix is Carlofred ( Carlefred), attested in the 7th century; as a suffix, it occurs in the rare names Altcarl and Gundecarl (9th and 11th centuries, respectively).E. Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch (1856), s.v. 'Carl' (303).
Charlemagne (742–814) was Charles Martel's grandson. After Charlemagne's reign, the name became irrevocably connected with him and his Carolingian dynasty. After Charlemagne, the name Charles ( Karol) became even the standard word for "king" in Slavic (Czech and Slovak král, Polish król; South Slavic kral крал, krȃlj краљ; Russian король), Baltic (Latvian karalis, Lithuanian karalius) and Hungarian ( király).
Charlemagne's son Charles the Younger died without issue, but the name resurfaces repeatedly within the 9th-century Carolingian family tree, so with Charles the Bald (823–877), Charles the Fat (839–888) Charles of Provence (845–863), Charles the Child (847/848–866) and Charles the Simple (879–929).
Charles resurfaces as a royal name in Germany with Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378, counted as "the fourth" after Charlemagne, Charles the Bald and Charles the Fat) and in France with Charles IV of France (1294–1328, "the fourth" after Charlemagne, Charles the Bald and Charles the Simple), and becomes comparatively widespread in the Late Middle Ages (Charles I, Duke of Savoy, Charles III, Duke of Savoy).
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) gives rise to a tradition of Charlses in Habsburg Spain (Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles II of Spain, Charles III of Spain, Charles IV of Spain).
The numbering scheme for the kings of Sweden was continued in modern times with Charles X Gustav, Charles XI, Charles XII, Charles XIII, Charles XIV John and Charles XV.
Charles I of England (1600–1649) is followed by Charles II of England (1630–1685). The Province of Carolina is named during the rule of Charles II, after Charles I.
Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine (1661–1742).
Charles Floyd (1782–1804) was the only casualty in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Charles DeRudio (1832–1910) was an Italian aristocrat, would-be assassin of Napoleon III, and later a career U.S. Army officer who fought in the 7th U.S. Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Charles Albert Varnum (1849–1936) was the commander of the scouts in the Little Bighorn Campaign and received the Medal of Honor for his actions in a conflict following the Battle of Wounded Knee. Charley Reynolds (1842–1876) was a scout in the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment who was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Carl has been a very popular male given name in the United States during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, consistently ranking in the top 30 male given names in the US from 1887 to 1938, and remaining among the top 100 until the 1980s, but since declining below rank 500. Charles has always been among the top 100 names in the U.S. since records started in 1880. In addition, it is among the top 100 names given in England and Wales; the current King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, Charles III, is a notable bearer of the name. In 2022, it was the 26th most popular name given to boys in Canada.
Charlotte is late medieval, e.g. Charlotte of Savoy (1441–1483), Charlotte of Cyprus (1444–1487). It was introduced to Britain in the 17th century, and gave rise to hypocorisms such as Lottie, Tottie, Totty.
Caroline is early modern, e.g. Caroline of Ansbach (1683–1737). It has given rise to numerous variations, such as Carlyn, Carolina, Carolyn, Karolyn, Carolin, Karolina, Karoline, Karolina, Carolien, as well as hypocorisms, such as Callie, Carol, Carrie, etc.
Another derived feminine name is Carla (Bulgarian, Catalan language, Dutch language, English language, German language, Italian language, Portuguese, Spanish language), a name which dates from early Italy.
Regional forms:
| Charlie/Charley, Chuck, Chucky, Chaz/Chas, Chad, Chip |
| Charlot |
| Karcsi |
| Carlinhos |
| Carlito, Carlitos, Caloy (Philippines) |
| Cuban composer and pianist | |
| French poet | |
| American poet and novelist | |
| English novelist | |
| English clergyman, writer and mathematician | |
| Canadian journalist and news agency executive | |
| American poet, photographer and writer | |
| American writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena | |
| American science-fiction author | |
| Charles Roger Hargreaves | Children's author who wrote the Mr. Men and Little Miss series. |
| Charles "Sis Doc" Richardson | American newspaper editor, founder of Chi Omega |
| Swiss screenwriter, dramatist and playwright | |
| American journalist, poet, historian; founder of the Southwest Museum | |
| Canadian journalist, sportsperson and politician | |
| American poet | |
| American photographer known for taking Bliss | |
| American author, editor and publisher | |
| Canadian poet | |
| American author of The Graduate |
| French-Armenian singer |
| American guitarist, singer, and composer |
| American country music figure |
| Brazilian rock drummer/producer |
| American Jazz bassist and composer |
| American composer |
| Vocalist and founding member of the country music trio Lady A |
| American jazz musician |
| American jazz artist |
| American Jazz bassist and composer |
| American gospel songwriter and performer |
| American Jazz saxophonist |
| British musician and singer |
| pioneer of southern gospel music |
| English drummer for the rock group The Rolling Stones |
| American cartoonist and early filmmaker | |
| French-American actor | |
| American actor | |
| Sebastian Cabot (born Charles Sebastian Thomas Cabot) | English actor |
| English comedy actor, famous for silent film acting | |
| American silent film comedian and writer | |
| English actor | |
| American actor | |
| English actor | |
| American actor and cable talk show host | |
| American child actor of the '50s and '60s | |
| American actor | |
| Lionel Jeffries (born Lionel Charles Jeffries) | English actor |
| English actor | |
| Australian comedian and a member of The Chaser | |
| silent film actor | |
| American comic actor and game show regular | |
| American actor and film director |
| American television journalist |
| American television journalist |
| American host of a television interview show |
| American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters |
| Prussian-American outsider artist |
| Dutch visual artist |
| American animator |
| wildlife artist, known for prehistoric restorations |
| English artist and art therapist |
| Charles Chandler Reese (1862-1936), American illustrator, newspaper cartoonist, and artist |
| English soldier and painter |
| American actor known for playing the voice as Mario and other characters |
| Canadian-American artist |
| creator of the comic strip Peanuts |
| American YouTuber and Twitch streamer |
| English footballer |
| Chilean professional footballer |
| former NBA forward and a current NBA color commentator for TNT |
| NFL player, 1967, Philadelphia Eagles |
| American professional wrestler |
| South African paralympic swimmer |
| American basketball player |
| NFL and CFL player |
| American freestyle swimmer |
| American football player |
| Scottish footballer |
| American All-Pro football player |
| multiple people |
| American football player |
| American basketball player who currently plays for the Houston Rockets |
| American football player |
| American football player |
| multiple people |
| Monégasque racing driver |
| Canadian high jumper |
| Irish hurler |
| American major league baseball All Star second baseman |
| American basketball forward |
| American basketball player |
| South African darts player |
| early Major League Baseball pitcher |
| Malagasy athlete |
| American professional soccer player |
| Brazilian midfielder |
| first African American golfer to play in a PGA tour |
| American football player |
| Louisiana politician | |
| American congressman and ambassador, grandson of John Adams | |
| Democratic U.S. Congressman from Florida | |
| first Governor of New Mexico Territory, assassinated in 1847 | |
| former U. S. Attorney General | |
| British political activist and militant atheist, founder of the National Secular Society | |
| Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
| last living signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence (died 1832) | |
| Charles Chanda | Zambian politician |
| U.S. Richard Nixon's Chief Counsel, involved in the Watergate scandal | |
| former American Secretary of War | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer | |
| 31st American Vice President, under Herbert Hoover | |
| 30th American Vice President, under Calvin Coolidge | |
| former U.S. Attorney General | |
| French military leader and statesman | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician | |
| Sri Lankan civil servant and politician | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala Member of Parliament for Hambanthota | |
| British politician | |
| civil rights activist, older brother of Medgar Evers | |
| 26th American Vice President, under Theodore Roosevelt | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala businessman, lawyer, and member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and scholar, first Sri Lankan Crown Counsel | |
| American diplomat | |
| Canadian politician | |
| American lawyer and politician | |
| Australian politician | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala independence activist | |
| former U.S. Secretary of State | |
| Pennsylvania delegate to Continental Congress; refused to sign Declaration of Independence due to his Quaker beliefs | |
| American politician | |
| British politician | |
| Canadian politician | |
| former U.S. ambassador to Latvia | |
| former U. S. Attorney General | |
| Sri Lankan Burgher people lawyer, legislator, and journalist | |
| American politician | |
| American politician | |
| former President of Greece | |
| Irish political leader | |
| West Virginian politician | |
| French businessman and politician | |
| former Solicitor for The City of London and early railway advocate | |
| former Governor of Virginia and U.S. Senator | |
| American congressman (Democrat from N.C.) | |
| Governor of Kentucky; also George Washington's Chief of Intelligence during the American Revolution | |
| Irish politician | |
| former President of Liberia | |
| secretary of the Continental Congress | |
| Charles Townsend | British politician |
| Texas congressman, subject of 2007 movie Charlie Wilson's War |
Other Saints of the Roman Catholic Church, canonized after 1900:
Beatified:
| English mathematician, philosopher, mechanical engineer and computer scientist | |
| American astrophysicist | |
| astronomer who proved the existence of black holes | |
| American engineering professor | |
| American mathematician | |
| British naturalist | |
| English archaeologist, involved in the Piltdown Man hoax | |
| French mathematician, engineer, economist, and politician | |
| French mathematician | |
| New Zealand ornithologist | |
| Sri Lankan Sinhala archaeologist | |
| French mathematician | |
| American geologist | |
| American astronomer, discoverer of Chiron and 2 moons of Jupiter | |
| American mathematician and civil engineer | |
| Scottish scientist, founder of modern geology | |
| Charles F. Marvin | American meteorologist |
| American obstetrician | |
| American neurologist | |
| American sociologist | |
| American chemist, mathematician, philosopher, | |
| American endocrinologist and laryngologist | |
| American mathematician | |
| American fossil collector, involved in the Bone Wars | |
| son of above, also a fossil collector and paleontologist | |
| American sociologist | |
| American paleontologist and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution | |
| Charles E. Wyman | Chair of the Ford Motor Company and professor of chemistry |
| Scottish physicist | |
| Charles M. C. Lee | Taiwanese behavioral economist |
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