Origin and Meaning of Charles
Meaning & Origin
Free man
Origin: Germanic - Derived from the Old High German name 'Karl', which means 'man' or 'free man'. It was used as a term for a person of noble birth.
Interesting Facts
- Charles has been a royal name throughout European history, borne by numerous kings and emperors, including Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who united much of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages.
- In different cultures, Charles appears in various forms, such as Carlo (Italian), Carlos (Spanish), and Karl (Swedish), all deriving from the same root.
- Notable bearers include Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist who developed the theory of evolution, and Charles Dickens, the famous English writer.
- Charles has consistently been a popular name in English-speaking countries and reached its peak popularity in the early to mid 20th century, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Related names include Charlesina (feminine form), Charlie (diminutive form), and other variants like Carl and Charley.