Charlotte Overview
- Meaning: Charlotte is a name with a combination of English and French/Latin origins given primarily to girls. Charlotte means “Free” and “petite.” The name is a female iteration of Charles, reaching back to the 14th century.
- Gender: Charlotte is a name most commonly given to girls. There are male variations such as Charles and Carl.
- Origin: The name can trace back to the 1300s. King Charles ll fathered two illegitimate daughters, both named Charlotte. The two Charlottes married royal families in France and Cypress, spreading the name to different regions of the world. It is not a biblical name.
- Pronunciation: Charlotte is pronounced, “SHAHR-luht.”
- Popularity: Charlotte is a very popular name. Since the 21st century, Charlotte has made its way into the top 30 names for girls in the US and Australia. It is also popular in the UK.
- Nicknames: Carlotta, Care, Char, Charlie, Kare, Lola, Lottie, Lotte.
- Variations: Carla, Carlotta, Carli, Carlie, Carly, Carol, Carole, Caroline, Carolyn, Charlene, Charline, Charli, Charlie, Charlee, Charlize, Karla, Karlee, Karolina.
- Namesakes: Charlotte Brontë, English writer of Jane Eyre.
What Does the Name Charlotte Mean?
Charlotte is a name with a combination of English and French/Latin origins given primarily to girls. Charlotte means “Free” but can also mean “petite.”
The name is a female iteration of Charles and reaches back to the 14th century when it was the name of one of the most prominent kings.
What Is the Origin of the Name Charlotte?
In the 1300s, King Charles ll fathered two daughters. They were among his many illegitimate children, and both of them were given the name Charlotte, after their father. At the time, the name Charles was known as “Charlot,” a variation of Charles.
How Popular Is the Name Charlotte?
Since the year 2000, the name Charlotte has climbed from being in the top 500 names for girls to the top 30. It’s very popular and, since 2010, has stayed a top 30 name for girls in the United States and Australia (1). It was even more popular in England and Wales, staying in their top 20 since the 80s.
How Do I Pronounce Charlotte?
Charlotte is most often pronounced as “SHAHR-luht,” with emphasis on the first syllable.
It can and is also often pronounced “SHAHR-lot” as the second-most-common way to pronounce the name.
Is Charlotte a Boy or Girl Name?
Charlotte is commonly given to infant girls. There are many shared nicknames, however, such as “Charlie.”
A male variation on the name includes Charles or Carl.
Variations of Charlotte
There are plenty of variations for the name Charlotte. A sample of the many variations, but not all, include:
- Carla
- Carlotta
- Carli
- Carlie
- Carly
- Carol
- Carole
- Caroline
- Carolyn
- Charlene
- Charline
- Charli
- Charlie
- Charlee
- Charlize
- Karla
- Karlee
- Karolina
And for boys:
- Charles
- Carl
- Carlos
- Carlito
- Carlo
- Karl
Nicknames for Charlotte
But for how many variations there are, only a few nicknames exist.
Some of those nicknames include:
- Carlotta
- Care
- Char
- Charlie
- Kare
- Lola
- Lottie
- Lotte
Similar Names to Charlotte
There are also a handful of names similar to Charlotte.
Some of those similar names include:
- Alice
- Amelia
- Antoinette
- Camilla
- Caroline
- Clara
- Eleanor
- Elizabeth
- Juliet
- Lucy
- Margaret
- Violet
Middle Names for Charlotte
Charlotte is a strong name, and the middle name can pair with some great secondary names. Some options include:
- Anne
- Avery
- Blair
- Claire
- Celeste
- Dawn
- Heidi
- Lark
- Laura
- Lucy
- Ramona
- Zoe
Sibling Names for Charlotte
Many names go great alongside Charlotte for a sibling, whether boy or girl. Some of them include:
For a brother:
- Andrew
- Charles
- Christopher
- David
- James
- Julian
- Michael
- Nathan
- Samuel
- Thomas
- William
And for a sister:
- Anne
- Annabella
- Bryony
- Hannah
- Hazel
- Isobel
- Isobella
- Kate
- Katie
- Lillian
- Lily
- Phoebe
- Rebecca
Famous People Named Charlotte
There are also many famous people named Charlotte. Some of the most famous include:
- Charli XCX (Charlotte Aitchison): English singer and songwriter.
- Charlotte Brontë: English writer of Jane Eyre.
- Charlotte Lennox: English author and poet.
- Charlotte Rae: American actress and singer.
- Charlotte Scott: British mathematician.
- Princess Charlotte of Cambridge: Daughter of Prince William and Princess Kate.
Charlotte in Popular Culture
Today, many Charlottes are characters in pop culture as well.
You might recognize:
- Charlotte: Main character in the film Lost in Translation.
- Charlotte DiLaurentis: A character on the television series Pretty Little Liars.
- Charlotte Heywood: Main character in Jane Austen’s novel Sanditon.
- Charlotte Pickles: A fictional cartoon character on Nickelodeon’s animated series Rugrats.
- Charlotte York Goldenblatt: Protagonist character in the television and film series Sex and the City.
Charlotte FAQs
There might be some other questions in your mind about the name Charlotte. Let’s look at some.
Is Charlotte a Good Girl’s Name?
Charlotte is a great girl. It has come back into fashion with the birth of the Princess of Cambridge, Charlotte. It’s a classic name that isn’t overused and does not have too many connotations associated with it.
Other similar names that do the same are Sophia, Emma, Olivia, and Isabella, which are also classics on the come-up for girl names in popularity.
Is Charlotte a Rare Name?
Charlotte is not a rare name. As noted earlier, it’s one of the more popular names today and growing. Moreover, this is especially true in English-speaking countries such as the US, Australia, and England.
Is Charlotte a Cute Name?
Charlotte is a cute name, but also it contains strength in it, which is why it is often chosen as a name for royalty.
Is Charlotte a Posh Name?
Considering that Charlotte has often been used as a royal name, it does have a posh image. However, with its continuous rise in popularity, that is changing, making it a name for anyone who likes it.
Is Charlotte a Biblical Name?
Charlotte is not a biblical name but rather a feminine variant of the name Charles. It means “free” and “little.”
How Do You Say Charlotte in Irish?
Charlotte takes a different spin in Irish and is spelled as Searlait. The pronunciation is the same as “Charlotte.”
