UK boy's name
Charl
A diminutive French form of the name Charles, meaning "free man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Charl is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Charl popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4527, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2006 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Charl. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Charl ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 boys were registered as Charl.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Charl as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4527
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Charl mean?
The name Charl has its origins in the French language, deriving from the Old French word "charl," which itself originated from the Frankish name "Karl" or "Karlaz." This name was derived from the Germanic root word "kar," meaning "man" or "warrior." The name Karl gained widespread popularity across Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly due to the influence of Charlemagne, the famous Frankish king who ruled a vast empire in the 8th and 9th centuries.
The name Charl began to appear in historical records as early as the 11th century, with notable bearers including Charl, Count of Flanders, who lived from 1083 to 1127. Another early recorded instance of the name was Charl, Duke of Lorraine, who lived from 1543 to 1608 and played a significant role in the French Wars of Religion.
During the Renaissance period, the name Charl gained further prominence in Europe, particularly in France and England. One famous bearer was Charl IX, King of France from 1560 to 1574, who was known for his role in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of French Protestants in 1572.
In the 17th century, the name Charl was popularized by Charl I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 to 1649. His reign was marked by the English Civil War, and he was eventually executed for treason, becoming a notable martyr figure for the royalist cause.
Another notable historical figure named Charl was Charl XII, King of Sweden from 1697 to 1718. He was known as one of the most renowned military leaders of his time, leading Sweden to numerous victories during the Great Northern War against Russia and its allies.
Moving into the modern era, one of the most famous bearers of the name was Charl de Gaulle, the French military leader and statesman who played a pivotal role in World War II and later served as the President of France from 1959 to 1969.
While the name Charl has its roots in French and Germanic languages, it has been adapted and used in various cultures across Europe and beyond, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. Despite its historical prominence, the name Charl has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades, though it remains a notable name with a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Charl over time
The chart below shows babies named Charl registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Charl, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Charl by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Charl 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4290 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Charl
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Charl: questions and answers
How popular is the name Charl in the UK right now?
In 2009, Charl was ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Charl most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Charl in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Charl?
A diminutive French form of the name Charles, meaning "free man".
How many people are called Charl in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Charl across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.