Carried by more than 85,000 people in France, this first name with the rich historical heritage is again imposed in the list of male first names. Classified in the top 100 births in 2025, it seduces as much by its timeless sound as by its royal and literary aura.
A royal and imperial heritage
Few first names can boast of such ancestry: ten kings of France, seven emperors from Germany and several English, Swedish and Spanish sovereigns have worn it. Symbol of force in its Germanic roots, Charles imposes itself in European history from the Middle Ages. In France, he experienced a first popularity in the 18th century, carried by the return of Charles II to England in 1660.
From literature to politics: a first name that marks its time
Vogue is amplified in the 19th century with the birth of great cultural and political figures. Charles Dickens (1812), Charles Baudelaire (1821) or General de Gaulle (1890-1970) contribute to making it a first name literary, charismatic and popular. Even after a clear withdrawal in the 1920s, it never completely disappeared from French maternityities.
A discreet but assertive return
In 2025, this first name is again among the 100 most attributed male first names in France. Its attraction goes beyond the hexagonal borders: in Quebec, it occupies the 12ᵉ place in the classification of the most given male names in 2023. Royal news, in particular with the coronation of Charles III in England, could still strengthen its visibility in the years to come.
Variants and symbolic
This first name is available in several forms, from the classic Charlot to the Basque variants Karol and Thales. His party is celebrated on March 2, in homage to Saint Charles Borromée, Archbishop of Milan who devoted his life to the sick and the poorest in the 16th century.
A strong and creative character
According to characterology, this first name evokes determination, communication, pragmatism, optimism and creativity. Qualities that undoubtedly contribute to its lasting attraction to parents in search of a name that is both noble, timeless and meaningful.