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Charlize

♀ Girl

Pronounced shar-LEEZ /ʃɑːrˈliːz/High

Meaning: free woman, strongHigh

In 30 seconds: Charlize is an Afrikaans and French-influenced name meaning free woman, a feminine form of Charles. Made globally famous by Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron.
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Origin HighGermanic, Afrikaans
Meaningfree woman, strong
U.S. rank (2024)#2437 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births74 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,617

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419982024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Charlize is an Afrikaans feminine form of Charles, from the Germanic Karl meaning free man or strong. The -ize ending is a distinctly South African French-influenced spelling pattern.

Charlize is used in South Africa and among fans of Charlize Theron worldwide.

Did you know? Charlize Theron (born 1975 in South Africa) won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Monster (2003), transforming Charlize from a rare Afrikaans name into an internationally recognized glamorous choice.
Overall data confidence 88%
Hanks & Hodges, Dictionary of First Names — reference for CharlizeBehind the Name: Charlize — name etymology referenceAfrikaans Name Studies — reference for Charlize

Variations

CharlotteCharlieCharleeCharleeze

Nicknames

CharlCharlie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Charlize Theron (1975–present)
    Charlize Theron, South African-American actress who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Monster (2003).

If you like Charlize…

Charlotte— classic French form of same Germanic root
Charlie— standard nickname of same name family
Charlee— similar modern Char- beginning name
Charline— French form of similar structure
Chardonnay— similar Char- beginning name

Frequently Asked

What does Charlize mean?

Charlize means free woman or strong, as an Afrikaans feminine form of Charles (from Germanic Karl).

How do you pronounce Charlize?

Charlize is pronounced shar-LEEZ (/ʃɑːrˈliːz/), with two syllables.

Is Charlize a girl's name?

Yes, Charlize is used as a feminine name.

How popular is the name Charlize?

Charlize is used in South Africa and among fans of actress Charlize Theron worldwide.