UK girl's name
Sharlotte
A feminine name of French origin meaning "free woman" or "little woman".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sharlotte is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharlotte popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 7 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Sharlotte. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sharlotte ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 7 girls were registered as Sharlotte.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharlotte as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
7 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Sharlotte mean?
Sharlotte is a feminine given name with roots tracing back to the French language and culture. It is a variant spelling of the more common name Charlotte, which itself derives from the Old French name Charlot, a diminutive form of Charles. Charles comes from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "freeman."
The name Sharlotte likely emerged in the late Middle Ages or early Renaissance period, as a variant spelling used in certain regions of France or among particular noble families. It shares a similar origin and evolution to names like Charlene and Carlotta, which also stem from the same root name of Charles.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sharlotte can be found in the writings of the 16th-century French poet Pierre de Ronsard, who dedicated a poem to a woman named Sharlotte de Vivonne. This suggests that the name was in use among the French nobility during the Renaissance era.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Sharlotte. One such figure was Sharlotte Burney (1753-1840), an English novelist and writer who was the daughter of the renowned diarist and author Fanny Burney. Another was Sharlotte von Stein (1742-1827), a German writer and intellectual who was a close friend and confidante of the famous poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
In the realm of art and culture, Sharlotte Rampling (born 1946) is a renowned British actress known for her roles in films such as "Georgy Girl" and "The Night Porter." Additionally, Sharlotte Casiraghi (born 1986) is a member of the Monegasque princely family, being the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco.
A more historical figure was Sharlotte of Bourbon-Parma (1891-1974), a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma and a princess by birth. She was known for her charitable works and philanthropy during her lifetime.
While the name Sharlotte has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has maintained a presence across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its French roots and connections to the historic name Charles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sharlotte over time
The chart below shows babies named Sharlotte registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sharlotte, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sharlotte by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharlotte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5754 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3788 | 24 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2781 | 21 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Sharlotte
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sharlotte: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sharlotte in the UK right now?
In 2017, Sharlotte was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sharlotte most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 7 babies registered as Sharlotte in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sharlotte?
A feminine name of French origin meaning "free woman" or "little woman".
How many people are called Sharlotte in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Sharlotte across the 12 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.