Charlie
CHAR-lee /ˈtʃɑːr.li/
Meaning of Charlie
Charlie is the English pet form of Charles, from the Old German karl — 'free man' or 'free-born.' It has functioned as both a masculine nickname and, since the mid-20th century, as an independent given name for girls as well as boys. Charlie has been in the UK top-10 for boys since 2005 and has also climbed into the girls' top-50, making it one of the most common genuinely gender-neutral names in UK registries.
Current popularity of Charlie
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #225 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #12 |
Notable bearers of Charlie
Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977); Prince Charles (now King Charles III); Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Charlie — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31