Name meaning & stats
Charles
Charles means “free man” (Germanic origin). 1,547,142 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Charless are 1.4× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“free man”
GermanicWell documented
From Karl, via Latin Carolus.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
1,547,142 US babies were named Charles between 1940 and 2025.
Where Charless end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.2× | High · 247 people |
| Professor | 1.4× | High · 174 people |
| Writer | 1.3× | High · 154 people |
| Basketball player | 0.9× | High · 135 people |
Among notable men who are professors, Charless show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Charles has a surprise career: 2.9×
Spelling family
Charles is the main spelling
- Charles 100%
- Charls <1%
- Charlies <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)