Charles sits comfortably in the UK charts at #119 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
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UK Rank 2024
#119
US Rank #51
About the Name Charles
Charles is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 31 places over five years. Its high point was #41 in 1998, and it now sits at #119. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 26 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Charles is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #51, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Charles
Unlikely. With around 452 UK babies named Charles per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Charles in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Charles has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 31 places in the last five years. Its peak was #41 in 1998. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Charles is more popular in the US (#51) than in the UK (#119). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Charles include: Charles Duke — Charles Moss Duke Jr.; Charles III — Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.; Charles Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham — Charles Hilary Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham is an English journalist and the chairman of The Spectator..
Charles ranks #51 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
452
UK babies named Charles (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.2
In a school of 600
↓ 31 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Charles
Likely around 1 other Charles in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Charles
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Charles Moss Duke Jr. is an American former astronaut, United States Air Force (USAF) officer and test pilot who, as Lunar Module pilot of Apollo 16 in 1972, became the 10th and youngest person to walk on the Moon, at age 36 years and 201 days.
Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and became heir apparent when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, acceded to the throne in 1952.
Charles Hilary Moore, Baron Moore of Etchingham is an English journalist and the chairman of The Spectator. He is a former editor of The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, and The Sunday Telegraph; he still writes for all three.
Charles II was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and Henrietta Maria of France.
Charles I was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of Scotland.
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form Charles of the Proto-Germanic name ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ (in runic alphabet) or *karilaz (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was "free man".
Charles V was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, King of Sicily and Naples from 1516 to 1554, and also Lord of the Netherlands and titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) from 1506 to 1555. He was heir to and then head of the rising House of Habsburg.
Charles Atlas was an Italian-born American bodybuilder best remembered as the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program which spawned a landmark advertising campaign featuring his name and likeness; it has been described as one of the longest-lasting and most memorable ad campaigns of all time. Atlas trained himself to develop his body from that of a "scrawny weakling", eventually becoming the most popular bodybuilder of his day.
Charles II was king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. The last monarch from the House of Habsburg that had ruled Spain since 1516, his death without children resulted in the 1701 to 1714 War of the Spanish Succession.