Charlotte
SHAR-lət /ˈʃɑːr.lət/
Meaning of Charlotte
Charlotte is the French feminine diminutive of Charles, from the Old German karl meaning 'free man' or 'free-born.' It entered English use through Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (wife of George III) in the 18th century.
Current popularity of Charlotte
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 | #3 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #12 |
Cultural notes
Royal use shapes the trajectory in the UK. The Princess Charlotte effect is documented — UK rank climbed by 14 positions in the year of her birth.
Notable bearers of Charlotte
Queen Charlotte (1744–1818); Charlotte Brontë; Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (b. 2015) drove a measurable spike in the UK following her birth.
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 Charlotte — 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