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
#4
1880 · 5,348 births
Debut · boys
1880
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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201923peak #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 1923

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #13 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 35 boysAKMaine: #9 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 44 boysMEVermont: #4 for boys · 89 births · 1 in 27 boysVTNew Hampshire: #14 for boys · 62 births · 1 in 49 boysNHWashington: #9 for boys · 224 births · 1 in 43 boysWAIdaho: #7 for boys · 82 births · 1 in 43 boysIDMontana: #5 for boys · 150 births · 1 in 28 boysMTNorth Dakota: #11 for boys · 95 births · 1 in 63 boysNDMinnesota: #11 for boys · 365 births · 1 in 61 boysMNIllinois: #5 for boys · 1,686 births · 1 in 34 boysILWisconsin: #13 for boys · 406 births · 1 in 58 boysWIMichigan: #9 for boys · 889 births · 1 in 41 boysMINew York: #8 for boys · 2,421 births · 1 in 39 boysNYMassachusetts: #8 for boys · 914 births · 1 in 38 boysMARhode Island: #10 for boys · 117 births · 1 in 45 boysRIOregon: #8 for boys · 148 births · 1 in 38 boysORNevada: #12 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 39 boysNVWyoming: #6 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 24 boysWYSouth Dakota: #9 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 54 boysSDIowa: #7 for boys · 515 births · 1 in 40 boysIAIndiana: #5 for boys · 1,102 births · 1 in 23 boysINOhio: #5 for boys · 1,855 births · 1 in 28 boysOHPennsylvania: #6 for boys · 2,926 births · 1 in 30 boysPANew Jersey: #8 for boys · 915 births · 1 in 32 boysNJConnecticut: #9 for boys · 305 births · 1 in 39 boysCTCalifornia: #9 for boys · 700 births · 1 in 48 boysCAUtah: #15 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 74 boysUTColorado: #5 for boys · 257 births · 1 in 34 boysCONebraska: #8 for boys · 260 births · 1 in 46 boysNEMissouri: #5 for boys · 1,062 births · 1 in 27 boysMOKentucky: #4 for boys · 1,077 births · 1 in 24 boysKYWest Virginia: #5 for boys · 779 births · 1 in 22 boysWVVirginia: #5 for boys · 753 births · 1 in 32 boysVAMaryland: #4 for boys · 690 births · 1 in 19 boysMDDelaware: #4 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 18 boysDEArizona: #14 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 67 boysAZNew Mexico: #9 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 53 boysNMKansas: #5 for boys · 564 births · 1 in 29 boysKSArkansas: #5 for boys · 447 births · 1 in 40 boysARTennessee: #5 for boys · 916 births · 1 in 26 boysTNNorth Carolina: #5 for boys · 781 births · 1 in 43 boysNCSouth Carolina: #7 for boys · 456 births · 1 in 43 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #5 for boys · 154 births · 1 in 21 boysDCOklahoma: #6 for boys · 605 births · 1 in 37 boysOKLouisiana: #6 for boys · 434 births · 1 in 44 boysLAMississippi: #7 for boys · 430 births · 1 in 44 boysMSAlabama: #6 for boys · 609 births · 1 in 42 boysALGeorgia: #7 for boys · 695 births · 1 in 41 boysGAHawaii: #10 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 59 boysHITexas: #5 for boys · 1,090 births · 1 in 48 boysTXFlorida: #6 for boys · 279 births · 1 in 37 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Delaware#4 · 1 in 18
  2. Maryland#4 · 1 in 19
  3. Kentucky#4 · 1 in 24
  4. Vermont#4 · 1 in 27
  5. District of Columbia#5 · 1 in 21

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#4861 in 18
Kentucky#41,0771 in 24
Maryland#46901 in 19
Vermont#4891 in 27
Arkansas#54471 in 40
Colorado#52571 in 34
District of Columbia#51541 in 21
Illinois#51,6861 in 34
Indiana#51,1021 in 23
Kansas#55641 in 29
Missouri#51,0621 in 27
Montana#51501 in 28
North Carolina#57811 in 43
Ohio#51,8551 in 28
Tennessee#59161 in 26
Texas#51,0901 in 48
Virginia#57531 in 32
West Virginia#57791 in 22
Alabama#66091 in 42
Florida#62791 in 37
Louisiana#64341 in 44
Oklahoma#66051 in 37
Pennsylvania#62,9261 in 30
Wyoming#6681 in 24
Georgia#76951 in 41
Idaho#7821 in 43
Iowa#75151 in 40
Mississippi#74301 in 44
South Carolina#74561 in 43
Massachusetts#89141 in 38
Nebraska#82601 in 46
New Jersey#89151 in 32
New York#82,4211 in 39
Oregon#81481 in 38
California#97001 in 48
Connecticut#93051 in 39
Maine#91401 in 44
Michigan#98891 in 41
New Mexico#9761 in 53
South Dakota#91131 in 54
Washington#92241 in 43
Hawaii#10481 in 59
Rhode Island#101171 in 45
Minnesota#113651 in 61
North Dakota#11951 in 63
Nevada#1281 in 39
Alaska#1371 in 35
Wisconsin#134061 in 58
Arizona#14511 in 67
New Hampshire#14621 in 49
Utah#15651 in 74

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 1923

girls
#570
159 births · 1 in 7,587 girls
boys
#5
28,966 births · 1 in 38 boys

Top girls' names in 1923

  1. #1Mary71,634
  2. #2Dorothy39,043
  3. #3Helen31,486
  4. #4Margaret26,134
  5. #5Betty25,989
  6. #6Ruth23,637
  7. #7Virginia18,325
  8. #8Mildred15,989
  9. #9Elizabeth15,459
  10. #10Frances14,881
  11. #570Charles159

Top boys' names in 1923

  1. #1John57,467
  2. #2Robert56,111
  3. #3William52,136
  4. #4James50,462
  5. #5Charles28,966
  6. #6George27,025
  7. #7Joseph25,561
  8. #8Edward20,597
  9. #9Richard18,887
  10. #10Donald16,433
More about 1923

girls

1,206,366 girls got a published name in 1923; 1 in 7,587 of them was named Charles, which outranked 90.1% of the 5,739 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Charles
  1. #567Alpha161
  2. #567Idella161
  3. #569Claudine160
  4. #570Charles159
  5. #571Theodora158
  6. #572Florene157
  7. #572Maud157
Biggest movers since 1922
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,834Eris#2,291 → #457
  2. ↑ 619Penny#1,508 → #889
  3. ↑ 317Laurene#1,309 → #992
  4. ↑ 310Cruz#1,103 → #793
  5. ↑ 306Dorene#1,207 → #901
Fallers
  1. ↓ 321Veva#962 → #1,283
  2. ↓ 318Arlie#949 → #1,267
  3. ↓ 305Gaynell#978 → #1,283
  4. ↓ 303Trinidad#449 → #752
  5. ↓ 300Laurine#897 → #1,197

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

boys

1,096,102 boys got a published name in 1923; 1 in 38 of them was named Charles, which outranked 99.9% of the 4,904 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Charles
  1. #2Robert56,111
  2. #3William52,136
  3. #4James50,462
  4. #5Charles28,966
  5. #6George27,025
  6. #7Joseph25,561
  7. #8Edward20,597
Biggest movers since 1922
Risers
  1. ↑ 403Marcos#1,333 → #930
  2. ↑ 341Armin#1,333 → #992
  3. ↑ 309Betty#1,222 → #913
  4. ↑ 309Godfrey#1,222 → #913
  5. ↑ 308Val#1,181 → #873
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,021Harden#999 → #2,020
  2. ↓ 472Buel#850 → #1,322
  3. ↓ 420Trinidad#485 → #905
  4. ↓ 304Gorden#722 → #1,026
  5. ↓ 288Joy#840 → #1,128

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

See the top 100 for 1923 →