| Robert | Charles | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright fame | Free man |
| Origin | Germanic | Germanic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROB-ert | CHARLZ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1947 (91,655) | 1947 (40,781) |
| In 2025 | 3,772 | 5,898 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Robert | Charles |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 24,325 | 35,125 |
| 2010s | 62,654 | 70,024 |
| 2000s | 106,666 | 75,334 |
| 1990s | 205,459 | 92,434 |
| 1980s | 321,655 | 131,902 |
| 1970s | 397,225 | 163,021 |
| 1960s | 650,786 | 249,398 |
| 1950s | 830,395 | 361,177 |
| 1940s | 758,126 | 361,772 |
| 1930s | 590,810 | 303,218 |
| 1920s | 576,374 | 298,031 |
| 1910s | 239,185 | 173,535 |
| 1900s | 35,849 | 36,184 |
| 1890s | 26,147 | 36,848 |
| 1880s | 24,074 | 46,656 |
Robert is a Germanic name from hrod (“fame”) and beraht (“bright”), so “bright fame.” A Norman favourite, it was borne by the Scottish hero-king Robert the Bruce.
Charles is a Germanic name meaning “free man.” It was borne by Charlemagne — Charles the Great — and by a long line of European kings and emperors.
Charles is more popular than Robert today: about 5,898 US babies were given the name Charles in 2025, compared with 3,772 named Robert.
Robert means Bright fame (Germanic origin), while Charles means Free man (Germanic origin).
In US records, Robert first appears in 1880 and Charles in 1880, so Robert has the longer recorded history.