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The first name Charlie

A unisex name.

Pronounced /ˈtʃɑɹli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

Meaning and origin

A diminutive of the male given name Charles; also used as a formal given name.

Charlie is a short form of

.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 1,679 boys were named Charlie, making it the 22nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 5,571 births (#4).

03,0006,000 1996200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
114,450
babies named Charlie, 1996–2025
#22
rank in 2025
2012
peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Charlie with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Charlie at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 2,460 boys born in the United States were named Charlie, the 145th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1919, when 2,891 were.

01,5003,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
GirlsBoys
224,639
babies named Charlie since 1880
#145
rank in 2025
1919
peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Charlie in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

Ча́рли
Čárli
Bulgarian
Kája
Czech
Kalle
Finnish, also Karo
Ча́рли
Čárli
Russian
Carlito
Spanish
Kalle
Swedish, also Kolle, Lotta

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Charlie

Other spellings and forms

Famous people named Charlie

128 on Wikidata, most written-about first

  • Charlie Chaplin
    English actor and filmmaker (1889–1977)
  • Charlie Parker
    American jazz saxophonist (1920–1955)
  • Charlie Puth
    American singer, songwriter, and record producer, born 1991
  • Charlie Hunnam
    British actor (born 1980)
  • Charlie Cox
    British actor (born 1982)
  • Charlie Kaufman
    American filmmaker and novelist, born 1958
  • Charlie Heaton
    British actor, born 1994
  • Charlie Austin
    English association football player, born 1989
  • Charlie Baker
    American businessman & politician (born 1956)
  • Charlie Weber
    American actor, born 1978
  • Charlie Plummer
    American actor, born 1999
  • Charlie Daniels
    English association football player (born 1986)

Questions

How popular is the name Charlie?
In 2025, 1,679 boys born in England and Wales were named Charlie, ranking 22nd. Its peak was 2012, with 5,571 births.
What are nicknames for Charlie?
Common nicknames for Charlie include Charli.
Is Charlie a boy's or a girl's name?
Both. Of the 224,639 US babies named Charlie since 1880, 18% were girls and 82% boys.
When was Charlie most popular?
1919 in the United States, when 2,891 babies were named Charlie, its highest rank at 66th.
How do you pronounce Charlie?
Charlie is /ˈtʃɑɹli/, 2 syllables.
What are other spellings of Charlie?
Charley, Charli and Charly.
Is Charlie also a surname?
Yes. Charlie is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.