Find out how popular the first name Carlos has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Carlos by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Carlos is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Carlos being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,546 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Carlos.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Carlos in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Carlos

The name Carlos has its origins in the Germanic language and culture. It is derived from the word "karl", which means "man" or "free man". The name first appeared in the 8th century AD and was popular among the Frankish and Visigothic nobility.

In the 9th century, the name gained widespread popularity after Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, who was known as Carolus Magnus in Latin. His name was derived from the Germanic "Karloz", which later became Charles in French and Carlos in Spanish.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Carlos is in the 11th century, with Carlos Buen Hijo, a nobleman from the Kingdom of Navarre in modern-day Spain. During the Middle Ages, the name was widely used across Europe, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

The name Carlos has several historical references in religious texts and scriptures. In the Bible, there is a reference to a Carmelite friar named Carlos de Santa María, who lived in the 16th century and was known for his work in spreading Christianity in South America.

Throughout history, there have been many notable figures with the name Carlos. One of the most famous was Carlos I of Spain, also known as Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor who ruled in the 16th century from 1516 to 1556. Another notable figure was Carlos III of Spain, who reigned from 1759 to 1788 and was known for his many reforms and patronage of the arts.

In the realm of literature, there was Carlos Fuentes, a Mexican novelist and essayist who was born in 1928 and died in 2012. He was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century and was known for his works that explored Mexican identity and culture.

In the world of music, there was Carlos Gardel, an Argentine singer, composer, and actor who was born in 1890 and died in 1935. He was a pioneer of the tango music genre and is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Latin American music.

Finally, in the field of science, there was Carlos Juan Finlay, a Cuban epidemiologist who was born in 1833 and died in 1915. He is credited with discovering that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes, a breakthrough that paved the way for the eradication of the disease in many parts of the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Carlos was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Carlos, please contact us.

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