Charlotte is a feminine given name of French origin, derived from the Old French word " Charlote," which was a diminutive of the male name Charles. The name Charles is ultimately derived from the Germanic element "karl" meaning "free man" or "strong."
The name Charlotte has been popular among royalty throughout history. It was first used by the British royal family in 1714 when Queen Anne named her daughter Princess Charlotte, who later became Queen consort to King George III. Since then, several other members of European royalty have borne the name Charlotte, including Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who married King George III and gave birth to their 15 children.
In France, the name Charlotte gained popularity during the reign of Queen Marie Antoinette, who was born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna in Austria but became known as Marie Antoinette when she married Louis XVI of France. Although she never went by the name Charlotte herself, it is believed that her Austrian family used this name for her in their private correspondence.
The name Charlotte has also been associated with notable figures throughout history beyond royalty. For example, Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet best known for her novel "Jane Eyre," while Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an American feminist writer and social reformer who published the influential essay "The Yellow Wallpaper."
Today, Charlotte remains a popular choice among parents for their daughters, ranking consistently in the top 100 baby names in several English-speaking countries. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its classic yet feminine sound, as well as its rich historical significance.
The name Charlotte has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past century and a half. Initially starting with only 237 births in 1880, it peaked at 13352 births in 2021 after the millennium. The name's popularity began to surge around the early 1900s, reaching its first significant peak of over 1000 births per year by 1907. It maintained consistent popularity throughout much of the mid-20th century, with the highest number of births in the late 1940s and early 1950s reaching nearly 6000 births per year. After a slight dip in the late 1950s to early 1970s, Charlotte's popularity began to climb again steadily from the mid-1980s onwards, with a particularly notable increase occurring around the turn of the century. Since then, it has become one of the most popular girl names in recent years.