Charley is a gender-neutral name of English origin that has gained popularity in recent years. It is a diminutive form of the name Charles, which means "free man" or "strong". The name Charley has been used for both boys and girls, although it is more commonly associated with males.
The name Charley first appeared in English-speaking countries during the Middle Ages, when it was used as a pet form of the name Charles. It became particularly popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and has since experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
Some famous people with the name Charley include American actor Charley Sheen, British singer-songwriter Charli XCX, and Australian cricketer Charley Macartney. Despite its relatively short history compared to other names, Charley has a distinct and charming sound that makes it appealing to parents looking for a unique name for their child.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Charley has seen a significant decrease in popularity over the past century in the United States. The highest number of births with the name Charley occurred in 1915 with 414 births. Since then, there has been a steady decline in the usage of this name.
Between 1880 and 1937, the number of annual births with the name Charley fluctuated between a high of 485 births in 1920 to a low of 188 births in 1937. However, from 1938 onwards, there was a consistent decrease in the popularity of this name. By 1961, the number of annual births with the name Charley dropped below 100, reaching a low of 76 births in 1967.
The lowest point occurred in 1985 with only 50 births. There was a brief increase between 2004 and 2007, with the highest number of births being 92 in both 2009 and 2010. However, since then, the popularity of the name Charley has remained relatively low, with an average of around 85 births per year between 2011 and 2023.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, there were 23,796 babies named Charley born in the United States. Despite its historical popularity, the name Charley has fallen out of favor over time, with fewer parents choosing this name for their children in recent years.