Charley
Girl / Boy name · 851 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Charley: 851 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 57 births in 2007.
Of English origin, Charley began as a friendly, informal pet form of Charles—itself from the Germanic *karlaz*, meaning "free man". This spelling took on a life of its own, often associated with a cheerful, approachable character. Famous Charleys include the blues pianist Charley Patton, a foundational figure in early Delta blues, and Charley Pride, the trailblazing country singer who broke racial barriers in Nashville. The name is also forever linked to the classic folk song "Charlie", though Charley remains a distinct variant. In more modern times, the name has crossed over as a popular unisex choice in Scotland, where it consistently appears in the top 100 names for boys and has grown in use for girls too.
Girl 37 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 200757 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #3848 babies
- Total births
- 816since 1987
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 43%vs prior 5y
Boy 8 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19965 babies
- Latest (2018)
- #5165 babies
- Total births
- 35since 1996
- 5-year trend
- ▲ 15%vs prior 5y