Girl · 148th of 30,306
Charlie
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
219,996
Total Births
145
Years of Data
2022
Peak Popularity Year
4,447
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Charlie stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
Charlie is a diminutive of Charles, originating from the Old High German 'Karal', meaning 'free man'. The name evolved through Latin and French before becoming popular in English. It is associated with friendliness and has biblical relevance of 'N/A'.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈtʃɑrli/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
Charlie is derived from the name Charles, which comes from the Old High German name 'Karal', meaning 'man' or 'free man'.
Meaning
free man
Language Evolution
Karal (Old High German), Carolus (Latin), Charles (French), Charlie (English)
Historical Usage
The name Charlie gained popularity in the 19th century as a diminutive of Charles and became widely used in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Charles, Chuck, Charley
Modern Popularity & Image
Charlie is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and goodwill.
Famous People
Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Brown, Charlie Sheen, Charlie Puth
Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Rising
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Consistently Rising
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 4,447 peak births in 2022
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Mississippi
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 12 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 69th of 7545 | 47,166 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 110th of 6773 | 34,630 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 185th of 7552 | 28,645 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 291st of 10718 | 11,080 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 400th of 16616 | 8,270 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 338th of 24088 | 14,369 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 214th of 23106 | 22,170 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 553rd of 9107 | 2,916 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 580th of 9204 | 2,617 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1188th of 12526 | 1,438 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2237th of 19264 | 592 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1492nd of 27321 | 1,551 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 747th of 35406 | 5,684 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 148th of 30306 | 23,098 |