FastNamesCharlotte
French and Germanic name meaning "French feminine diminutive of Charles (Germanic Karl, 'free man'), signifying 'petite free woman' or 'noblewoman'.". Ranked 2nd for girls in 2025.
Meaning and origin of Charlotte
French feminine diminutive of Charles (Germanic Karl, 'free man'), signifying 'petite free woman' or 'noblewoman'.
Linguistically, Charlotte is classified under French and Germanic naming traditions. It is typically pronounced "SHAR-lət".
Popularity and ranking
In official US Social Security birth records from 1880 through 2025, Charlotte has been given to a total of 453,433 girls. It has also been given to 771 boys.
Peak year: Charlotte reached its highest relative share among girls in 2025, when 13,400 babies received the name (8,337 per million births).
All-time best rank: 2nd place, first achieved in 2025.
Recent standing (2025): Ranked 2nd with 13,400 births. Ten years earlier in 2015, it ranked 9th (up 7 spots).
Busiest decade: More girls were named Charlotte in the 2010s than in any other decade (102,488 births).
| Decade | Recorded births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,311 |
| 1890s | 4,771 |
| 1900s | 6,194 |
| 1910s | 22,548 |
| 1920s | 35,752 |
| 1930s | 34,646 |
| 1940s | 49,478 |
| 1950s | 36,997 |
| 1960s | 24,232 |
| 1970s | 12,513 |
| 1980s | 8,486 |
| 1990s | 9,696 |
| 2000s | 24,266 |
| 2010s | 102,488 |
| 2020s | 78,055 |
Source: Social Security Administration, national baby name data, data through 2025. Names given to fewer than five babies of one sex in a year aren't published, so totals are a little lower than actual births.
Where Charlotte is most common in the US
Accounting for when Charlotte was in fashion nationally, it has been most heavily concentrated in the following states (measured against the expected rate from each state's births):
- New Hampshire: 1.8 times the national rate (2,243 births since 1910).
- Delaware: 1.8 times the national rate (1,405 births since 1910).
- Vermont: 1.8 times the national rate (1,160 births since 1910).
- Maine: 1.5 times the national rate (2,696 births since 1910).
- Alaska: 1.4 times the national rate (683 births since 1910).
Source: Social Security Administration, baby names by state, data through 2025. Names given to fewer than five babies of one sex in a state in a year aren't published, so totals are a little lower than actual births.
How many people have the name Charlotte?
About 324,000 living American girls and women share the name Charlotte. Additionally, an estimated 400 living American boys and men share the name.
The median age of an American named Charlotte is 14 years old.
Estimated from Social Security Administration records (1880–2025) and official SSA cohort mortality tables.
History of the name Charlotte
Charlotte originated in France in the fourteenth century as a graceful feminine diminutive of the royal name Charles, derived from Continental Germanic Karl ('free man'). It was carried into royal houses across Europe, entering Britain with distinction through Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818), wife of King George III, after whom cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charlottesville, Virginia, were named.
The name flourished in nineteenth-century literature, most famously borne by English novelist Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855), author of Jane Eyre, as well as the beloved titular spider in E. B. White's classic children's novel Charlotte's Web (1952), endowing the name with profound literary intelligence and warmth.
In official United States vital statistics, Charlotte has achieved one of the most spectacular ascents of the twenty-first century. Rising steadily from the late 1990s, it entered the national top twenty in 2012 and ascended into the top ten in 2014, reaching rank 3 nationwide with over 12,000 newborn girls per year, standing as a premier global classic of royal elegance and contemporary appeal.
Notable people named Charlotte
- Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855), English novelist and author of Jane Eyre
- Charlotte Gainsbourg (1971–), French-British actress and singer
- Charlotte Flair (1986–), American professional wrestler and multiple-time champion
- Charlotte Church (1986–), Welsh singer-songwriter and television presenter
Variants and related names
Spelling variants
Diminutives and nicknames
Related names
Sources and references
- Patrick Hanks, Kate Hardcastle, Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of First Names (2006), p. 53.
- E. G. Withycombe. The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1977), p. 64.
- Douglas Harper. Online Etymology Dictionary. Reference link.