Charlotte

girlFrenchChristian

Charlotte is a girl name of French, from Germanic origin, meaning “Free woman”.

MeaningFree woman
GenderGirl
OriginFrench, from Germanic
PronunciationSHAR-lut
TraditionModern & Classic, Christian
Used inWorldwide

Meaning and origin of Charlotte

Charlotte is the French feminine diminutive of Charles, which goes back to the Germanic karl, a free man. It came into English use in the eighteenth century, helped by Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Writers Charlotte Brontë and Charlotte Perkins Gilman made it well known, as did E. B. White's spider in Charlotte's Web, and Princess Charlotte of Wales gave it fresh attention in 2015.

Is Charlotte a religious name?

Charlotte has no particular religious background; it is a royal and literary name used widely in Christian and secular families alike.

How popular is Charlotte?

Very popular in English-speaking countries and France in recent years.

Gifts with the name Charlotte

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Spellings and variants of Charlotte

CarlotaCarlottaCharlottaKarlotta

Names similar to Charlotte

More girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Charlotte mean?

Charlotte means 'Free woman'. It is of French, from Germanic origin.

Does Charlotte have a religious meaning?

Charlotte has no particular religious background; it is a royal and literary name used widely in Christian and secular families alike.

How do you pronounce Charlotte?

Charlotte is pronounced SHAR-lut.

Is Charlotte a boy or girl name?

Charlotte is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.