Charls
A boy's name of Germanic origin with 722 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Charls is a one-syllable boy's name with a sharp, distinct sound — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. With 722 recorded U.S. births since 1886, it sits in a sweet spot: recognizable enough to be a real name, uncommon enough to turn heads.
Charls is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Charls is a boy's baby name of Germanic origin, a contracted spelling of Charles, derived from the Old Germanic Karl, meaning 'free man' or 'man.' Charles has been one of the most enduring royal names in Western history, borne by Frankish emperors, British kings, and the patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne (Charles the Great).
The Charls spelling strips the name to its phonetic core, giving it a spare, informal quality. It appears most commonly in records from the American South, where shortened spellings were sometimes adopted as formal given names.
EtymologyShow more
Charls is cataloged under the Germanic naming tradition. Germanic names have ancient roots in compound constructions — typically pairing elements meaning things like 'strength,' 'counsel,' 'fame,' or 'protection.'
In the U.S., Charls has been recorded as a boy's name since 1886, with 722 total births. Browse the Germanic names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Charls has 60+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1886.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 27 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 16 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 54 | — |
| 1950s | 56 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 121 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 165 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 164 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 101 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 6 | — |
| 1890s | 6 | — |
| 1880s | 6 | — |
The Story of Charls
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1932, Charls is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Charls are most likely born between 1922 and 1942.
How rare is Charls?
With 722 total births on record, Charls remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1886, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1930s with 165 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Charls by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Charls per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(60 years, 1886–1987)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 10 | #4295 |
| 1986 | 6 | #6053 |
| 1985 | 11 | #3837 |
| 1972 | 8 | #3674 |
| 1971 | 8 | #3706 |
| 1969 | 6 | #4014 |
| 1966 | 5 | #4034 |
| 1965 | 9 | #2817 |
| 1964 | 10 | #2688 |
| 1963 | 5 | #4129 |
| 1961 | 8 | #3133 |
| 1960 | 11 | #2560 |
| 1958 | 9 | #2859 |
| 1956 | 10 | #2654 |
| 1955 | 6 | #3557 |
| 1953 | 7 | #3183 |
| 1952 | 8 | #2911 |
| 1951 | 9 | #2691 |
| 1950 | 7 | #3071 |
| 1949 | 7 | #3068 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charls a boy's or girl's name?
When was Charls most popular?
How popular is the name Charls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1886–1987