Charlese
A feminine derivative of Charles, meaning "free man" or "freeman".
Name Census estimates that about 453 living Americans carry the first name Charlese. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Charlese today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Charlese births was 1990 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Charlese. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
453
~ 1 in 756,632 Americans
Peak year
1990
20 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2018 SSA rank
#16,188
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Charlese: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Charlese from the 1950s through to the 2010s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 161 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Charlese by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Charlese during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Charlese
The given name Charlese originates from the French language and is a feminine form of the name Charles. The name Charles derives from the Germanic name Karl, which means "free man" or "manly." The earliest recorded spelling of the name was Carolus in Latin, which later evolved into Charles in French and English.
The name Charlese gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in France and other parts of Europe where French influence was strong. It was often used among the nobility and upper classes, as the name Charles was associated with royalty and power due to the fame of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Charlese was Charlese d'Albret, a French noblewoman who lived in the 15th century. She was the daughter of Alain d'Albret, a powerful feudal lord in southwestern France, and was known for her involvement in the political intrigues of the time.
In the 16th century, Charlese de Bourbon-Vendôme, a French princess from the House of Bourbon, was a prominent figure at the court of King Henry IV of France. She was known for her intelligence and played an influential role in the religious and political affairs of the time.
During the 17th century, Charlese de La Tour d'Auvergne, a French noblewoman and writer, gained recognition for her literary works, including her memoirs and correspondence with influential figures of the time.
In the 18th century, Charlese de Polignac, a French courtier and mistress of King Louis XV, was a prominent figure at the French court. She was known for her beauty, wit, and influence over the King, and played a significant role in the political and social affairs of the time.
In the 19th century, Charlese Désirée Clary, a French noblewoman and the wife of Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, was a notable figure during the Napoleonic era. She was known for her intelligence, charm, and her support for her husband's political ambitions.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Charlese. The name has a rich history and has been associated with nobility, power, and cultural influence, particularly in France and other parts of Europe where the French language and culture have had a significant impact.
People
Charlese + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Charlese as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Charlese: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Charlese?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 453 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Charlese going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 756,632 US residents.
Is Charlese a common name?
We classify Charlese as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 479 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Charlese most popular?
The single biggest year for Charlese was 1990, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Charlese is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Charlese a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Charlese in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.