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Charleston
Pronounced CHARL-stən /ˈtʃɑrl.stən/High
Meaning: Charles's town — from the city named for King Charles II of England; also the 1920s dance the city namedHigh
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Charleston is 'Charles's town' — Charleston, South Carolina, was founded in 1670 as Charles Town for King Charles II, and Charles itself descends from Germanic karl, 'free man'. The city's name then christened the kicking, swiveling dance that defined the Roaring Twenties.
As a girls' name it is a twenty-first-century arrival in the Southern place-name tradition of Savannah and Georgia, with the bonus built-in nickname Charlie. U.S. usage is rare and slightly more often female than male in recent years.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Charleston mean?
Charleston means 'Charles's town', from the South Carolina city named for King Charles II; it also names the famous 1920s dance.
How do you pronounce Charleston?
It's said CHARL-stən /ˈtʃɑrl.stən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Charleston a boy or girl name?
Charleston is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.
How popular is Charleston?
Charleston is a rare place name pick in the U.S.