Charles, originating from Germanic roots, means "free man" or "strong." It is a classic and timeless name, popular throughout history. In England, it was particularly favored during the Middle Ages due to its royal connection; many kings of that era bore this name, including King Charles I who ruled from 1625 until his execution in 1649. The French variant of the name is Charles, while the Italian version is Carlo. Some notable individuals with this first name include Charles Dickens, the renowned English novelist, and Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist whose theory of evolution revolutionized biology.
"No significant popularity for the name Charlie in 1948, with only five babies named Charlie born that year."