Charlotte
/SHAR-lət/
Charlotte is a girl name of French origin, meaning Free man.
- GenderGirl
- OriginFrench
- StyleClassic
- Syllables2
- US rank#4
What does Charlotte mean?
Free man
Charlotte is a French feminine diminutive of Charles, which comes from the Germanic karl, "free man". So the name means, quite literally, "little free woman".
The story behind the name
The name arrived in Britain with Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married George III in 1761 and bore him fifteen children. Her popularity made Charlotte a fashionable choice throughout the Georgian period, and Queen Charlotte gave her name to cities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Literature reinforced it: Charlotte Brontë wrote Jane Eyre, and Charlotte Lucas is the shrewdest character in Pride and Prejudice.
The birth of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge in 2015 came at the crest of an existing revival rather than starting one, and the name has ranked in the top ten in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia through the 2010s and 2020s.
Notable people named Charlotte
- Queen Charlotte, consort of George III
- Charlotte Brontë, novelist
- Princess Charlotte of Wales
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman, writer
How popular is Charlotte?
Popularity in the United States
Charlotte has been given to 388,932 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 127 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Popularity in France
Charlotte has been given to 151,803 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 1990s. Its use has declined since that peak.
Popularity in Spain
There are 940 people called Charlotte living in Spain, with an average age of 20.2.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Charlott, Carlotta, Charlie, Lotte
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Charlotte
What does the name Charlotte mean?
Charlotte means Free man. It is of French origin.
Is Charlotte a boy's or a girl's name?
Charlotte is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Charlotte?
Charlotte is pronounced SHAR-lət.
How popular is the name Charlotte?
Charlotte has been given to 388,932 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Charlotte?
Common variants include Charlott, Carlotta, Charlie, Lotte.