Best 100 Middle Names For Charles in 2023
Charles is a dignified name that is borne by many religious, royal, scientific, and political individuals. Never having fallen below a top 100 name choice, it consistently remains a favorite pick among parents.
If you’re considering the name Charles for your son, we’ve gathered a list of the best middle names for Charles below.
Meaning of the Name Charles
There are different schools of thought on where the name Charles is derived from. Most agree that Charles is the French and English version of the German name Karl or Carl.
Some believe it is derived from the Germanic name Karilaz meaning “free man.” This was derived from the Old English word cereal or ceorl, meaning “man of low birth” or “a common man”
Others believe it is derived from the Germanic element hari meaning “army” or “warrior.”
| Origin | German |
| Pronunciation | ch-ahr-ls |
Best Middle Names for Charles
Whether you’re looking for a traditional middle name or something more modern, we’ve put together some of our favorites here.
- Charles Aiden
- Charles Alexander
- Charles Anderson
- Charles Andre
- Charles Asher
- Charles Beau
- Charles Benjamin
- Charles Brady
- Charles Brayden
- Charles Briggs
- Charles Bryson
- Charles Byron
- Charles Cade
- Charles Carter
- Charles Cash
- Charles Clayton
- Charles Connor
- Charles Conrad
- Charles Cooper
- Charles Daniel
- Charles Dante
- Charles David
- Charles Davis
- Charles Dean
- Charles Donovan
- Charles Dylan
- Charles Elijah
- Charles Ethan
- Charles Ezra
- Charles Felix
- Charles Finn
- Charles Gabriel
- Charles Grant
- Charles Grayson
- Charles Grey
- Charles Gunner
- Charles Harris
- Charles Hayes
- Charles Hendrix
- Charles Henry
- Charles Hudson
- Charles Huxley
- Charles Isaac
- Charles Ivan
- Charles Jace
- Charles Jackson
- Charles Jacob
- Charles James
- Charles Joseph
- Charles Jude
- Charles Kane
- Charles Kingston
- Charles Knox
- Charles Landon
- Charles Langston
- Charles Lawson
- Charles Levi
- Charles Lewis
- Charles Lincoln
- Charles Lucas
- Charles Maddox
- Charles Marshall
- Charles Maurice
- Charles Maxwell
- Charles Miguel
- Charles Nash
- Charles Nathaniel
- Charles Nicholas
- Charles Nolan
- Charles Oliver
- Charles Oscar
- Charles Paxton
- Charles Penn
- Charles Pierce
- Charles Pierre
- Charles Presley
- Charles Preston
- Charles Quinn
- Charles Reid
- Charles Roman
- Charles Royce
- Charles Ryder
- Charles Sawyer
- Charles Skyler
- Charles Soren
- Charles Stetson
- Charles Sutton
- Charles Tanner
- Charles Theodore
- Charles Thomas
- Charles Tobias
- Charles Travis
- Charles Trenton
- Charles Vance
- Charles Vaughn
- Charles Victor
- Charles Wade
- Charles Waylon
- Charles Wesley
- Charles Weston
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How To Pick a Middle Name
Do You Need A Middle Name?
In short, no. You do not need to give your child a middle name. You can choose to only give your child a first name and last name. There are no laws or requirements in regard to middle names.
However, according to research in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using middle initials in your name increases people’s perception of your intelligence.
Providing your child with a middle name will help differentiate them from others who share their same name. It also gives them a second option. Some children choose to go by their middle names instead of their first names as they grow older.
We all know how important it is to find the perfect name for our children. But did you know that in some cultures, middle names can be used as a way to give your child an additional identity? A new connection with their family history or heritage.
Here we will explore the things you should consider when giving your children a middle name!
Family Names
A child’s middle name is a great way to honor a beloved family member. It could be someone who has passed or a living family member who means a lot to the parents. Middle names don’t need to be gender-specific, so this could be a good place to include male or female family members.
Some parents like to include family surnames, such as the mother’s maiden name, as a middle name. This allows both sides of the family to pass down their name to the child. Any name that is meaningful to the family can make a nice middle name.
Flow and Initials
Probably the most important thing parents think of when choosing their child’s name is how it all sounds together. The first, middle, and last name should flow nicely together.
Many popular middle names are short, one or two syllable names because they pair well with most first names.
If family members speak another language or have an accent, take into consideration how everyone will be pronouncing the names when determining how they fit together
Monograms are popular in Southern culture, but it is still helpful to consider your child’s initials regardless of where you live.
Monograms for women are typically in the order of first name initial, large last name initial, and then middle name initial.
For men, the initials are usually in order of first, middle, and then last name. Avoid spelling out unfortunate words with the initials.
Middle names and their initials can also be used for nicknames. For example, Mary Elizabeth can be shortened to Mary Beth. Or, Elizabeth Zoe can be shortened to the initials E. Z. As a nickname.
If you just can’t narrow it down to a first name and a middle name, you can always include multiple middle names. In the United States, most people only have one middle name, but it is common around the world to have two or more.
It is recommended not to add too many middle names though. Most paperwork only leaves a spot for a single middle name or initial and multiple names can lead to confusion.
Special Meanings
A child’s middle name is a great way to pay homage to anything that holds special meaning to the parents. Some inspiration for names includes:
- Influential people in your life
- Characters from books, movies, or television
- Locations that hold memories
- Languages that are important to the family
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First Name for Middle Name Charles
If you’re considering Charles as a middle name, we’ve compiled a list of some great first name options here.
- Aaron Charles
- Abraham Charles
- Alexander Charles
- Andrew Charles
- Anthony Charles
- Benjamin Charles
- Beckett Charles
- Beckham Charles
- Bentley Charles
- Bryson Charles
- Caleb Charles
- Callum Charles
- Cameron Charles
- Christian Charles
- Conrad Charles
- Damian Charles
- Daniel Charles
- Declan Charles
- Dominick Charles
- Dylan Charles
- Easton Charles
- Elijah Charles
- Elliott Charles
- Ethan Charles
- Ezra Charles
- Felix Charles
- Finley Charles
- Forrest Charles
- Franklin Charles
- Gideon Charles
- Grayson Charles
- Gregory Charles
- Gunner Charles
- Hayden Charles
- Henry Charles
- Hunter Charles
- Isaiah Charles
- Jackson Charles
- Jeremiah Charles
- Jonathan Charles
- Joseph Charles
- Kenneth Charles
- Lennox Charles
- Liam Charles
- Lincoln Charles
- Maverick Charles
- Micah Charles
- Michael Charles
- Nicholas Charles
- Noah Charles
- Oliver Charles
- Patrick Charles
- Perry Charles
- Preston Charles
- Raymond Charles
- Richard Charles
- Russell Charles
- Ryder Charles
- Samuel Charles
- Sebastian Charles
- Silas Charles
- Teddy Charles
- Thomas Charles
- Timothy Charles
- Victor Charles
- Vincent Charles
- William Charles
- Zachary Charles
Nicknames for Charles
- Arlo
- Cal
- Carl
- Chad
- Charl
- Charley
- Charlie
- Chas
- Chase
- Chaz
- Chip
- Chuck
- Chucky
- Huck
- Karl
- Lee
Variations of Charles
- Carolus, Karl (Ancient Germanic)
- Karlo (Croatian)
- Carl, Karl (Danish)
- Karel, Carel (Dutch)
- Kaarle, Kaarlo, Karl, Kalle (Finnish)
- Carl, Karl (German)
- Karolos (Greek)
- Kale (Hawaiian)
- Károly, Karcsi (Hungarian)
- Séarlas (Irish)
- Carlo (Italian)
- Carl, Karl (Norwegian)
- Karol (Polish)
- Carlos, Carlinhos, Carlito, Carlitos (Portuguese)
- Carol (Romanian)
- Carlos, Carlito, Carlitos (Spanish)
- Carl, Karl, Kalle (Swedish)
Names Similar to Charles
- Albert
- Alfred
- Archie
- Arthur
- Benjamin
- Carl
- Charlie
- Christopher
- Clarence
- Claude
- Daniel
- David
- Donald
- Edward
- Eli
- Elliot
- Ernest
- Frederick
- George
- Harold
- Harry
- Henry
- Herbert
- Jack
- James
- John
- Joseph
- Kenneth
- Leo
- Leonard
- Louis
- Matthew
- Max
- Michael
- Oliver
- Patrick
- Percy
- Peter
- Philip
- Raymond
- Richard
- Robert
- Ronald
- Samuel
- Steven
- Theo
- Theodore
- Thomas
- Walter
- William
Sibling Boy Names that go with Charles
- Charles and Alexander
- Charles and Ashton
- Charles and Beckham
- Charles and Caleb
- Charles and Dexter
- Charles and Dylan
- Charles and Edward
- Charles and Franklin
- Charles and Grayson
- Charles and Harris
- Charles and Ivan
- Charles and Jacob
- Charles and Jackson
- Charles and Kingston
- Charles and Liam
- Charles and Mason
- Charles and Matthew
- Charles and Nolan
- Charles and Owen
- Charles and Preston
- Charles and Sebastian
- Charles and Silas
- Charles and Theodore
- Charles and Victor
- Charles and William
Sibling Girl Names that go with Charles
- Charles and Andrea
- Charles and Bridget
- Charles and Chelsea
- Charles and Christina
- Charles and Delilah
- Charles and Eleanor
- Charles and Emma
- Charles and Freya
- Charles and Gianna
- Charles and Hazel
- Charles and Isabelle
- Charles and Juliet
- Charles and Katherine
- Charles and Lillian
- Charles and Lucille
- Charles and Mabel
- Charles and Noelle
- Charles and Olivia
- Charles and Penelope
- Charles and Quinn
- Charles and Rhianna
- Charles and Samantha
- Charles and Trinity
- Charles and Victoria
- Charles and Whitney
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History of the Name Charles
The first appearance of the name was from King Cearl of Mercia who ruled during the early part of the 7th century.
The popularity of the name was due to Charlemagne (Charles the Great). He was King of the Franks who ruled over most of Europe during the 8th and 9th centuries. At the time, the name was Latinized as Karolus and later Carolus.
By the 15th century, the name Charles was being used by England’s upper-class. Mary Queen of Scots named her first son Charles James. He became King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England. He was influential in uniting Scotland, England, and Ireland under a single monarchy. His son King Charles I, and grandson King Charles II, both reigned as King after him.
According to the Social Security Administration, Charles has always been one of the most popular boy names in the United States. Charles was a top 10 boy’s name until 1955 when it dropped into the 11th position.
Although it slightly declined on the naming charts list, it still remained a favorite choice among parents. The lowest year for the name thus far was 2009 when it ranked 64th. As of 2021, Charles ranks as the 50th most popular boy’s name in the United States.
Famous People with the Name Charles
| Saint Charles Garnier | French Jesuit missionary and martyr |
| Saint Charles-Joseph-Eugene de Mazenod | French Catholic clergyman |
| Saint Carl Lwanga | Ugandan Catholic martyr |
| Saint Charles of Mount Argus | Passionist Dutch priest who worked in Ireland |
| Saint Charles of Sezze | Franciscan lay brother |
| Charles Barkley | Former NBA player and current NBA commentator for TNT |
| Charles “Chuck” Bednarik | one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of the NFL |
| Charles “Chuck” Berry | American guitarist, singer, and composer nicknamed “Father of Rock and Roll” |
| Charles Curtis | 31st Vice President of the United States |
| Charles Dance | English actor in television series Game of Thrones |
| Charles Darwin | revolutionized biology with his theory of evolution |
| Charles Dawes | 30th Vice President of the United States |
| Charles de Gaulle | French statesman |
| Charles Dickens | author of novels Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities |
| Charles Fairbanks | Charles Fairbanks 26th Vice President of the United States |
| Charles Parrott | (known as Charley Chase) American silent film comedian |
| Charles Reilly | American actor in original Broadway cast of Bye Bye Birdie |
| Charles Schulz | American cartoonist of the Peanuts comic strip |
| Charles “Charlie” Watts | English drummer for The Rolling Stones |
Fictional Characters Named Charles
| Charles | a character in the musical The Cat and the Fiddle |
| Charles | a character in the television series Charles in Charge |
| Charles “Chuck” Bass | a character in the television series Gossip Girl |
| Charles Montgomery “Monty” Burns | a character in the animated television series The Simpsons |
| Charles “Charlie” St. George | a character in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why |
| Charles Lowell | a character on the television series Kate & Allie |
| Charles “Chuck” McGill | a character in the television series Better Call Saul |
| Major Charles Emerson Winchester III | a character in the television series M*A*S*H |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charles a biblical name?
The name Charles is not specifically found in the bible. However, it does have ties to religion through a number of historical figures known as Saint Charles.
Is Charles a popular name?
Charles has always been a top name choice among parents. Thus far, the name has always been a top 100 choice as a male given name in the United States
What is the female name for Charles?
Feminine variations of the masculine name Charles include Carla, Carlotta, Charlotte, and Charlie.
Final Thoughts on MIddle Names for Charles
The name Charles carries with it a ton of class and prestige. This distinguished name has been a favorite among parents for centuries and we don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.
If you’re considering naming your son Charles, we hope our list of middle name ideas has been useful!
MORE MIDDLE NAME IDEAS
Now that you’ve seen all the middle name ideas for Charles, you might want to check out some middle name ideas for these similar names!
- Middle Names for Benjamin
- Middle Names for Calvin
- Middle Names for Charlie
- Middle Names for Henry
- Middle Names for Thomas
- Middle Names for Samuel
If you’re looking for more middle name ideas, you can find all our lists in our Middle Names section.
For more baby name ideas and inspiration head over to our Baby Names section.
Krissy lives in California with her family of three that make up “The Hadicks.” With a passion for research and helping others, The Hadicks was developed as a resource for other parents and parents-to-be!