Charles

Charles is a French and English form of the Germanic name Karl, derived from the Old High German element karl, meaning "free man" or "man of the common people." The name gained immense prestige through the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, whose Latin name Carolus Magnus means "Charles the Great," and it was subsequently borne by numerous European monarchs. Its widespread adoption across cultures produced many cognates, including Karl, Carlo, Carlos, Carl, and Karol, as well as feminine derivatives such as Charlotte and Caroline.