Charles

#9,457 for girls in 2025, 10 births · #48 for boys in 2025, 5,898 births
Given to boys 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1880 · 5,348 births
Debut · boys
5,348 births
In top 100 · boys
146 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
2,434,659
since 1880

Charles over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201932peak #4, 1880boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#9,45710#485,898
2024#11,1228#515,613
2023#10,3129#545,421
2022#10,3839#505,934
2021#15,2515#506,010
2020#7,96913#466,249
2019#10,4739#526,406
2018#8,14613#536,667
2017#8,77612#487,193
2016#6,90117#527,127
2015#10,8669#507,204
2014#7,63615#517,362
2013#7,74815#577,025
2012#7,80415#626,947
2011#11,1819#616,987
2010#12,2768#637,106
2009#647,284
2008#6,79919#637,288
2007#9,53912#627,452
2006#8,23714#608,013
2005#7,13816#567,933
2004#2,92754#567,652
2003#11,3258#577,696
2002#12,1877#587,208
2001#6,32217#557,283
2000#7,15814#517,525
1999#8,22311#507,525
1998#8,01611#487,849
1997#6,16315#497,656
1996#5,06519#438,248
1995#4,51822#448,478
1994#5,01619#439,018
1993#3,77628#449,855
1992#3,41932#4310,469
1991#3,20734#3811,336
1990#2,73742#3812,000
1989#2,07260#3612,245
1988#1,49191#3712,109
1987#1,54582#3512,173
1986#1,47285#3412,625
1985#1,269106#3412,900
1984#1,179112#3312,942
1983#1,114121#3313,212
1982#1,131124#3114,310
1981#1,261102#3114,427
1980#1,161116#2914,959
1979#1,061130#2814,806
1978#1,104118#2714,844
1977#1,31588#2614,743
1976#1,122106#2613,921
1975#963129#2514,574
1974#1,133102#2315,151
1973#1,009117#2315,752
1972#982122#2316,968
1971#903146#2219,851
1970#891148#2122,411
1969#912135#1921,658
1968#906130#2021,575
1967#926122#2021,288
1966#874131#2022,252
1965#870132#2023,494
1964#920129#1725,908
1963#898136#1626,762
1962#960122#1527,590
1961#987120#1329,194
1960#926132#1329,677
1959#837150#1130,797
1958#900129#1132,242
1957#821152#1134,283
1956#792156#1135,239
1955#788148#1135,365
1954#838126#1037,463
1953#779138#938,421
1952#831121#938,866
1951#710151#939,406
1950#693154#939,095
1949#708143#940,052
1948#679150#938,676
1947#725138#940,781
1946#695134#938,215
1945#658125#732,469
1944#615142#734,662
1943#571176#736,632
1942#579163#735,854
1941#563155#632,742
1940#588140#631,689
1939#548149#630,789
1938#570144#631,151
1937#496176#630,520
1936#567133#629,101
1935#528149#629,983
1934#496168#729,790
1933#446209#628,991
1932#468197#631,092
1931#443212#629,934
1930#436237#631,867
1929#408262#529,930
1928#412271#531,243
1927#395303#531,941
1926#451225#529,521
1925#470216#529,580
1924#526186#530,460
1923#570159#528,966
1922#488199#528,839
1921#539176#529,242
1920#564163#528,309
1919#616129#525,192
1918#592144#526,921
1917#612124#724,143
1916#606123#623,612
1915#658101#721,960
1914#67175#716,937
1913#74849#713,191
1912#59667#711,070
1911#68640#75,725
1910#75332#74,784
1909#74729#74,029
1908#70930#73,929
1907#84020#63,884
1906#74224#63,607
1905#77722#53,608
1904#71024#63,406
1903#78919#53,213
1902#66725#53,361
1901#65923#53,049
1900#67628#54,098
1899#64423#53,147
1898#76819#53,557
1897#69920#53,341
1896#1,04710#53,639
1895#57827#53,633
1894#56826#53,788
1893#59423#53,723
1892#50329#54,319
1891#47529#53,640
1890#47530#54,061
1889#46828#54,199
1888#47028#54,591
1887#37233#54,031
1886#45922#54,533
1885#42824#54,599
1884#46319#54,802
1883#45118#44,826
1882#37223#55,091
1881#40517#54,636
1880#51811#45,348
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Charles was already there! It came in at #4, and was given to 5,348 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1889–1909, when fewer than 4,400 boys a year got the name.

Where Charles is popular in 1932

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #4 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 19 boysAKMaine: #7 for boys · 144 births · 1 in 45 boysMEVermont: #10 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 42 boysVTNew Hampshire: #10 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 44 boysNHWashington: #9 for boys · 200 births · 1 in 45 boysWAIdaho: #7 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 43 boysIDMontana: #7 for boys · 94 births · 1 in 38 boysMTNorth Dakota: #10 for boys · 90 births · 1 in 66 boysNDMinnesota: #10 for boys · 377 births · 1 in 53 boysMNIllinois: #7 for boys · 1,646 births · 1 in 31 boysILWisconsin: #11 for boys · 415 births · 1 in 56 boysWIMichigan: #7 for boys · 1,011 births · 1 in 37 boysMINew York: #8 for boys · 2,236 births · 1 in 40 boysNYMassachusetts: #10 for boys · 833 births · 1 in 36 boysMARhode Island: #11 for boys · 106 births · 1 in 43 boysRIOregon: #8 for boys · 123 births · 1 in 43 boysORNevada: #6 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 18 boysNVWyoming: #7 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 31 boysWYSouth Dakota: #7 for boys · 119 births · 1 in 46 boysSDIowa: #7 for boys · 479 births · 1 in 38 boysIAIndiana: #7 for boys · 883 births · 1 in 26 boysINOhio: #7 for boys · 1,680 births · 1 in 27 boysOHPennsylvania: #8 for boys · 2,434 births · 1 in 30 boysPANew Jersey: #7 for boys · 820 births · 1 in 32 boysNJConnecticut: #10 for boys · 235 births · 1 in 42 boysCTCalifornia: #7 for boys · 848 births · 1 in 42 boysCAUtah: #14 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 72 boysUTColorado: #7 for boys · 250 births · 1 in 32 boysCONebraska: #7 for boys · 259 births · 1 in 42 boysNEMissouri: #6 for boys · 1,067 births · 1 in 26 boysMOKentucky: #4 for boys · 1,162 births · 1 in 23 boysKYWest Virginia: #4 for boys · 790 births · 1 in 21 boysWVVirginia: #5 for boys · 827 births · 1 in 27 boysVAMaryland: #5 for boys · 650 births · 1 in 18 boysMDDelaware: #8 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 24 boysDEArizona: #10 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 50 boysAZNew Mexico: #9 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 61 boysNMKansas: #5 for boys · 471 births · 1 in 30 boysKSArkansas: #2 for boys · 725 births · 1 in 24 boysARTennessee: #4 for boys · 1,235 births · 1 in 21 boysTNNorth Carolina: #5 for boys · 1,201 births · 1 in 28 boysNCSouth Carolina: #5 for boys · 577 births · 1 in 33 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #5 for boys · 187 births · 1 in 20 boysDCOklahoma: #4 for boys · 761 births · 1 in 29 boysOKLouisiana: #5 for boys · 581 births · 1 in 33 boysLAMississippi: #5 for boys · 716 births · 1 in 28 boysMSAlabama: #5 for boys · 1,045 births · 1 in 27 boysALGeorgia: #6 for boys · 1,018 births · 1 in 29 boysGAHawaii: #7 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 39 boysHITexas: #4 for boys · 1,648 births · 1 in 34 boysTXFlorida: #5 for boys · 496 births · 1 in 24 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Arkansas#2 · 1 in 24
  2. Alaska#4 · 1 in 19
  3. Tennessee#4 · 1 in 21
  4. West Virginia#4 · 1 in 21
  5. Kentucky#4 · 1 in 23

Best ever in a state: #2 in Vermont, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arkansas#27251 in 24
Alaska#4141 in 19
Kentucky#41,1621 in 23
Oklahoma#47611 in 29
Tennessee#41,2351 in 21
Texas#41,6481 in 34
West Virginia#47901 in 21
Alabama#51,0451 in 27
District of Columbia#51871 in 20
Florida#54961 in 24
Kansas#54711 in 30
Louisiana#55811 in 33
Maryland#56501 in 18
Mississippi#57161 in 28
North Carolina#51,2011 in 28
South Carolina#55771 in 33
Virginia#58271 in 27
Georgia#61,0181 in 29
Missouri#61,0671 in 26
Nevada#6161 in 18
California#78481 in 42
Colorado#72501 in 32
Hawaii#7871 in 39
Idaho#7791 in 43
Illinois#71,6461 in 31
Indiana#78831 in 26
Iowa#74791 in 38
Maine#71441 in 45
Michigan#71,0111 in 37
Montana#7941 in 38
Nebraska#72591 in 42
New Jersey#78201 in 32
Ohio#71,6801 in 27
South Dakota#71191 in 46
Wyoming#7471 in 31
Delaware#8611 in 24
New York#82,2361 in 40
Oregon#81231 in 43
Pennsylvania#82,4341 in 30
New Mexico#9781 in 61
Washington#92001 in 45
Arizona#10791 in 50
Connecticut#102351 in 42
Massachusetts#108331 in 36
Minnesota#103771 in 53
New Hampshire#10701 in 44
North Dakota#10901 in 66
Vermont#10581 in 42
Rhode Island#111061 in 43
Wisconsin#114151 in 56
Utah#14641 in 72

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Charles
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 3 spots since 2024 (#51#48)
  • 2 spots since 2020 (#46#48)
  • 2 spots since 2015 (#50#48)
  • Biggest jump: 6 spots in 2014 (#57#51)
  • Biggest drop: 6 spots in 1997 (#43#49)
Rise & fade · boys
Peaked on debut
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1880 at #4 (5,348 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 75 yrs
  • Top 10: 75 yrs · run 1880–1954
  • Top 100: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 21
  • Highest: 1 in 21 boys born in 1880 were named Charles (4.8%)
  • Latest: 1 in 290 boys born in 2025 (0.35%)
Era · boys
The 1940s
  • 14.9% of all boys named Charles (361,772) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s46,656#4 (1880)#5
1890s36,848#5 (1892)#5
1900s36,184#5 (1900)#6
1910s173,535#5 (1918)#7
1920s298,031#5 (1927)#5
1930s303,218#6 (1930)#6
1940s361,772#6 (1941)#8
1950s361,177#9 (1951)#10
1960s249,398#13 (1960)#17
1970s163,021#21 (1970)#24
1980s131,902#29 (1980)#33
1990s92,434#38 (1990)#44
2000s75,334#51 (2000)#58
2010s70,024#48 (2017)#55
2020s35,125#46 (2020)#50

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Charles in 1932

girls
#468
197 births · 1 in 5,417 girls
boys
#6
31,092 births · 1 in 34 boys

Top girls' names in 1932

  1. #1Mary59,883
  2. #2Betty34,420
  3. #3Barbara26,318
  4. #4Dorothy24,974
  5. #5Joan21,044
  6. #6Patricia17,992
  7. #7Margaret16,556
  8. #8Helen16,376
  9. #9Shirley14,476
  10. #10Doris12,910
  11. #468Charles197

Top boys' names in 1932

  1. #1Robert59,268
  2. #2James51,930
  3. #3John48,624
  4. #4William42,124
  5. #5Richard31,809
  6. #6Charles31,092
  7. #7Donald29,794
  8. #8George20,439
  9. #9Joseph18,566
  10. #10Thomas16,834
More about 1932

girls

1,067,148 girls got a published name in 1932; 1 in 5,417 of them was named Charles, which outranked 90.8% of the 5,098 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Charles
  1. #464Marietta198
  2. #464Sonia198
  3. #464Winona198
  4. #468Charles197
  5. #468Carla197
  6. #468Zelda197
  7. #471Emogene196
  8. #472Callie195
  9. #472Hope195

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. 963Dian#1,876#913
  2. 519Carleen#1,394#875
  3. 357Jimmy#1,336#979
  4. 347Letty#1,287#940
  5. 340Letitia#1,148#808
Fallers
  1. 350Blossom#970#1,320
  2. 332Luetta#844#1,176
  3. 305Roy#887#1,192
  4. 289Sofia#887#1,176
  5. 282Joretta#463#745

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,044,157 boys got a published name in 1932; 1 in 34 of them was named Charles, which outranked 99.9% of the 4,284 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Charles
  1. #3John48,624
  2. #4William42,124
  3. #5Richard31,809
  4. #6Charles31,092
  5. #7Donald29,794
  6. #8George20,439
  7. #9Joseph18,566
Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. 2,418Delano#3,095#677
  2. 969Garner#1,643#674
  3. 868Ronny#1,770#902
  4. 713Darryl#1,693#980
  5. 609Marc#1,589#980
Fallers
  1. 467Jones#959#1,426
  2. 455Hamilton#831#1,286
  3. 393Hyman#697#1,090
  4. 373Davey#983#1,356
  5. 341Hayes#983#1,324

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1932