UK name, mostly girls
Charli
A feminine diminutive form of the French name Charlotte, meaning "petite" or "little".
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.
Charli is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Charli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 63 births.
This profile covers 640 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 11% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 876 living people in the UK are called Charli. 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
- • Charli ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 63 girls were registered as Charli.
- • Charli ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #336 in 2019.
- • About 876 living people in the UK are estimated to have Charli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 95.2% of Charli registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3318
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2003
63 births
Estimated living
876
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Charli
In England and Wales birth records, Charli has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 4.8% of registrations are for boys and 95.2% 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.
Charli registered for boys
- Ranked #3,895 in 2014
- 4 boys registered in 2014
- Peak: 2007 (8 births)
Charli registered for girls
- Ranked #3,318 in 2024
- 7 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (63 births)
Meaning
What does Charli mean?
The name Charli is a diminutive form of the name Charles, which is derived from the Germanic name Karl. Karl comes from the Old High German word "karal," meaning "free man." The name Charles gained popularity in the Middle Ages due to the influence of Charlemagne, the famous Frankish king and Holy Roman Emperor who ruled in the late 8th and early 9th centuries.
The name Charli is thought to have originated in England during the 19th century as a nickname or shortened form of the name Charles. It was initially used as a masculine name but later gained popularity as a feminine name as well.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Charli can be found in the novel "The Mysteries of Udolpho" by Ann Radcliffe, published in 1794. In the novel, a character named Charli is mentioned, although it is unclear whether this character was male or female.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Charli. One of the earliest was Charli Chaplin (1889-1977), the famous English comic actor and filmmaker who rose to fame during the silent film era with his iconic character "The Tramp."
Another notable Charli was Charli Parker (1920-1955), the American jazz saxophonist and composer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz music. His innovative style and improvisational skills had a profound impact on the development of modern jazz.
In the world of literature, Charli Dickens (1812-1870) was a renowned English novelist who wrote classics such as "A Tale of Two Cities," "Great Expectations," and "Oliver Twist." His works are celebrated for their vivid characters and social commentary.
In the realm of sports, Charli White (1918-1979) was an American sprinter who won four Olympic gold medals in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games. He was known for his exceptional speed and held several world records in his prime.
Finally, Charli Sheen (born 1965) is an American actor known for his roles in films such as "Platoon," "Wall Street," and the TV series "Two and a Half Men." Despite his turbulent personal life, he has had a successful career in Hollywood spanning several decades.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Charli throughout history, highlighting its enduring popularity and the diverse fields in which it has been represented.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Charli over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Charli 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 Charli, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 63 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Charli by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Charli 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 | #3213 | 38 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2597 | 109 | 10 |
| 2000s | #851 | 384 | 10 |
| 1990s | #857 | 109 | 4 |
Geography
Where Charli is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Charli. 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.
Charli ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #336 in 2019.
Across the UK
Charli in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2024
29 years of NRS records, 229 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#336 in 2019
3 years of NISRA records, 12 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Charli
-
Charli Wroe
basketball player
British basketball player (born 2004)
2004-
Related
Names similar to Charli
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Charli: questions and answers
How popular is the name Charli in the UK right now?
In 2024, Charli was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Charli most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 63 babies registered as Charli in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Charli?
A feminine diminutive form of the French name Charlotte, meaning "petite" or "little".
How many people are called Charli in the UK?
A total of 640 babies have been registered as Charli across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 229 more in Scotland and 12 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Charli most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Charli ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #336 in 2019. 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.