Charles

free man (Germanic)

Charles is a english / other boy name in the Philippines. PSA rank #272 (27,557 records), 2 syllables.

English / Other American period
PSA rank
#272
Count
27,557
Syllables
2
Origin
English / Other
Historical layer
American period
Sound
Strong

Origin and meaning

free man (Germanic)

Charles traces back to the Germanic root 'karlaz' meaning 'free man'. It entered the English language following the Norman Conquest and spread globally through British and French royal lines. In the Philippines, it became widely adopted through American influence in the 20th century.

Derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man', which passed through Old French into English. It was adopted extensively in the Philippines during the American colonial period and remains a prominent masculine name.

English 80% Other 20%

Name character

Strength
4/5
Modernity
3/5
Formal feel
4/5
Sound: Strong Ruler Pairs with short or long surnames Travels well High origin confidence

In the Philippines

Frequently shortened to 'Charlie', 'Chuck', or 'Cholo'. Often paired with second names such as Charles Edward, John Charles, or Charles Vincent.

Best known for: King Charles III

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Charles with popular surnames

How the first name sits with a mother's maiden surname and father's surname.

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About the name Charles

How do I use Charles with two Filipino surnames?

Charles is the given name. The full name is Charles + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.

Is Charles a common boy name in the Philippines?

PSA rank #272 describes how often this given name appears in Philippine records — not whether it is a better name. Fit with both family surnames still matters more for the birth certificate.