Charles

Often interpreted as “free man” or “man,” from a historic Germanic root.

Charles is a long-established masculine given name with broad recognition across generations, especially in English and French usage. It has been borne by many historical figures, which is one reason it reads as formal and traditional in many contexts today. Etymologically, Charles is usually traced back to a Germanic root, commonly linked to Old High German Karl. In everyday baby-name references, that root is often glossed as “free man” or simply “man,” though exact nuance can depend on how a source interprets the old term and its social context. In common English pronunciation, Charles is often a single syllable: CHARLZ. A practical tip is that it has well-established short forms like Charlie and (in some regions) Chuck, which makes it easy to adapt from formal to casual settings.

Etymology: From a Germanic name often connected to Old High German Karl; the form Charles spread widely through medieval European and later English usage.