Carles is a classic Catalan male given name, derived from the Latin name Carolus, which itself originates from the Germanic element 'karl', meaning 'free man' or 'strong'. The name Carles has been widely used in Catalonia and other parts of Spain for centuries, contributing to its rich cultural heritage. It was popularized by figures such as Carles I, the Count of Charolais who later became the Duke of Burgundy and played a significant role in medieval European politics. In the modern era, notable individuals named Carles include Carles Puyol, a former captain of the Spanish football team, and Carles Francioli, a renowned Catalan sculptor. The name is typically pronounced with a stress on the first syllable, /'karls/. It is often accompanied by various Catalan diminutives like Carlitos or Carolines for informal use.
The name Carles experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with peaks as high as 20 births in a single year (1928) and troughs as low as 5 births ( seen multiple times from 1954 to 2021). Despite these variations, the name has maintained some level of consistency, with at least one Carles being born each year since 1912, except for the years 1964 and 1973. In total, there were 681 births named Carles over this period.