charlie

Charlie is a masculine given name, commonly a diminutive of Charles. The form originates from the Germanic name Karl/Carl, meaning “free man,” and developed into a standalone given name in English-speaking countries. It is used as both a given name and a nickname, and may be spelled Charley or Charly in some cases.

In English-speaking contexts, Charlie has been widely popular since the 19th century and remains common in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It is also used for females in some cases, often as an affectionate nickname derived from Charlotte, though less common as a formal given name.

Notable people with the name include Charlie Chaplin, a British-born actor and filmmaker whose work helped define early cinema; Charlie Parker, an American jazz saxophonist; Charlie Sheen, an American actor; and Charlie Watts, the drummer of the Rolling Stones. Contemporary Charlies include musician Charlie Puth and actor Charlie Hunnam.

Fictional characters include Charlie Brown, the protagonist of the comic strip Peanuts; Charlie Bucket, the boy who travels to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory; Charlie Kelly from the television series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and Charlie Swan from the Twilight series.

In the NATO phonetic alphabet, “Charlie” designates the letter C in radio communication. The name continues to be used globally as a familiar, friendly form of Charles and as a standalone given name.