Charles

Boys

Best rank #68 (2017) · ranked in 18 years

Charles climbed onto the charts in 2008 and stayed listed for 18 years, topping out at #68 in 2017.

It climbed from #92 in 2008 to #82 in 2025.

The latest tally (2025) puts Charles at #82.

In 2017, 7,205 babies were given the name Charles.

Charles was most popular around 2017, making it characteristic of the 2010s generation.

Rank by year

11020200820172025
  1. 2025825,908
  2. 2024855,621
  3. 2023925,430
  4. 2022845,943
  5. 2021806,015
  6. 2020706,262
  7. 2019786,415
  8. 2018806,680
  9. 2017687,205
  10. 2016757,144
  11. 2015767,213
  12. 2014767,377
  13. 2013867,040
  14. 2012886,962
  15. 2011846,996
  16. 2010847,114
  17. 2009937,284
  18. 2008927,307

Similar names

Names similar to Charles include Charlotte, Christopher, Christian, which share a starting letter or overlapping popularity. Compare their rank trajectories below.

Where Charles is most popular

In 2025, Charles was recorded in 51 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 5,898 births nationwide.

The largest share came from Texas at 478 births, 8.1% of the national total, where it ranked #127 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 40.0% of Charles births, against 19.2% Northeast, 23.6% Midwest, 17.1% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Charles placed as high as #9 in District of Columbia and as low as #215 in Nevada.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1Texas478 · #127 there
  2. 2California401 · #176 there
  3. 3New York348 · #71 there
  4. 4Florida243 · #150 there
  5. 5Illinois239 · #49 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast19.2%
  • Midwest23.6%
  • South40.0%
  • West17.1%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is Charles a popular name?
Charles reached a best rank of #68 in 2017 and has charted in 18 years.
Where does Charles rank now?
In the most recent data (2025), Charles ranks #82.
Is Charles a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
When was Charles most popular?
Charles peaked around 2017.

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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)