Charles
Boy name · #48 in 2025 · Uniqueness 40/100
Charles ranks #48 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 5,898 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #50, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 305 boys born in 2025 was named Charles.
Babies named Charles per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Charles first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5,348 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1947, when 40,781 boys were named Charles — good for #9 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Charles against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Charles in class?
Charles scores 40 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Charles is most common
Geography matters for names, and Charles is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Charless were TX (478), CA (401), NY (348), FL (243), IL (239). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Charles
Statistically, parents drawn to Charles tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Thomas, Robert, David, John, and James.
ThomasRobertDavidJohnJamesJosephMichaelWilliam
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Charles | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5,898 | #48 |
| 2024 | 5,613 | #51 |
| 2023 | 5,421 | #54 |
| 2022 | 5,934 | #50 |
| 2021 | 6,010 | #50 |
| 2020 | 6,249 | #46 |
| 2019 | 6,406 | #52 |
| 2018 | 6,667 | #53 |
| 2017 | 7,193 | #48 |
| 2016 | 7,127 | #52 |
| 2015 | 7,204 | #50 |
| 2014 | 7,362 | #51 |
| 2013 | 7,025 | #57 |
| 2012 | 6,947 | #62 |
| 2011 | 6,987 | #61 |
| 2010 | 7,106 | #63 |
| 2009 | 7,284 | #64 |
| 2008 | 7,288 | #63 |
| 2007 | 7,452 | #62 |
| 2006 | 8,013 | #60 |
| 2005 | 7,933 | #56 |
| 2004 | 7,652 | #56 |
| 2003 | 7,696 | #57 |
| 2002 | 7,208 | #58 |
| 2001 | 7,283 | #55 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Charles a popular boy name?
Charles ranked #48 among boys in 2025 with 5,898 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #50.
When was the name Charles most popular?
Charles peaked in 1947, when 40,781 American boys received the name (ranked #9 that year). Since 1947 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Charles?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 305 newborn American boys was named Charles. It scores 40/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.