NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Charis

Feminine form of grace or loveliness in Greek origin.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Charis is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Charis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1672, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 90 births.

This profile covers 1,005 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,216 living people in the UK are called Charis. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Charis ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 90 girls were registered as Charis.
  • Charis ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #432 in 2017.
  • About 1,216 living people in the UK are estimated to have Charis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.5% of Charis registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1672

2024

Births in 2024

18

Latest year

Peak year

1999

90 births

Estimated living

1,216

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Charis

In England and Wales birth records, Charis has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 1.5% of registrations are for boys and 98.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

99% girls
Boys15 (1.5%)Girls1,005 (98.5%)

Charis registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,951 in 2024
  • 12 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (12 births)

Charis registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,672 in 2024
  • 18 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 1999 (90 births)

Meaning

What does Charis mean?

The name Charis originates from the Ancient Greek language and culture. It was derived from the Greek word 'charis' which means grace, kindness, and life. The name first appeared in ancient Greek mythology, where Charis was one of the Charites, the three goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility.

Charis was a popular name among ancient Greeks, particularly in Athens and other major city-states. It was often given to girls as a symbol of grace and beauty. The name can be found in various ancient Greek texts, including works by renowned philosophers and playwrights such as Aristotle and Euripides.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Charis dates back to the 5th century BC. A famous bearer of the name was Charis of Samos, a renowned ancient Greek painter who lived around 480 BC. She was known for her exceptional skill in capturing the beauty and grace of her subjects.

In the 4th century BC, another notable Charis was Charis of Ephesus, a philosopher and follower of Plato. She was highly respected for her intellectual prowess and contributions to the field of philosophy.

During the Hellenistic period, Charis was the name of a renowned courtesan and companion of Alexander the Great. She was known for her wit, intelligence, and beauty, and is mentioned in various historical accounts of Alexander's reign.

In the 2nd century AD, Charis of Miletus was a prominent Greek poet and philosopher. She was known for her lyrical works and her teachings on the nature of love and beauty.

Another notable bearer of the name was Charis of Constantinople, a 6th century Byzantine princess and daughter of Emperor Justin I. She was known for her piety and charitable works, and was highly regarded in the Byzantine court.

While the name Charis has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages over the centuries. The name is still widely used today, particularly in countries with a strong Greek influence or heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Charis over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Charis in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Charis, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 90 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
023456890199620102024

Decades

Charis by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Charis was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2103 77 5
2010s #1596 212 10
2000s #736 440 10
1990s #439 276 4

Geography

Where Charis is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Charis. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Charis ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #432 in 2017.

Scotland
6
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Charis in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#485 in 2021

32 years of NRS records, 175 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#432 in 2017

11 years of NISRA records, 44 total registered

Related

Names similar to Charis

FAQ

Charis: questions and answers

How popular is the name Charis in the UK right now?

In 2024, Charis was ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.

When was Charis most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 90 babies registered as Charis in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Charis?

Feminine form of grace or loveliness in Greek origin.

How many people are called Charis in the UK?

A total of 1,005 babies have been registered as Charis across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 175 more in Scotland and 44 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Charis most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Charis ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #432 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.