Meaning & Origin
A number of places in the United States: A city in Arkansas, and one of the two county seats of Franklin County. A city, the county seat of Coles County, Illinois; after Charles Morton, its first postmaster. A town in Maine; after Charles Vaughan, an early settler. A city in Mississippi, and one of the two county seats of Tallahatchie County. A city, the county seat of Mississippi County, Missouri; after either nearby Charles Prairie or the city in South Carolina. A town in New York; after Charles Van Epps, an early settler. A neighborhood of Staten Island, New York; after Charles Kreischer, son of Balthasar Kreischer, after whom the town was previously named (as Kreischerville). A city, the county seat of Charleston County, South Carolina; after Charles II of England.
Charleston is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, drawn from the city name meaning 'Charles's town' — a place name honoring King Charles II of England. Charleston, South Carolina, is one of America's oldest and most historically significant cities, famous for its architecture, history, and the 1920s jazz dance that bears its name.
Charleston fits the contemporary trend of Southern American city names as given names — alongside names like Savannah, Austin, and Memphis. The 1920s Charleston dance gives the name an additional association with jazz age energy and American cultural creativity that makes it feel both historical and vibrant.