Boy · Spanish (from Germanic) · International · Christian
Carlos
CarlosSay it KAAR-lohs
- Meaning today
- Free man, strong
- Original meaning
- "Spanish form of Charles: Germanic karl, "man, free man"" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Carlos; Charles
- Say it
- KAAR-lohs
- Other spellings
- Karlos, Carlo
Carlos
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Carlos meaning
Carlos is an international and Christian boy's name of Spanish origin (from Germanic).
Spanish form of Charles: Germanic karl, "man, free man"
Also used to mean: strong
Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces Charles through Medieval Latin Carolus to the Germanic name Karl, "man, husband", from the same root as Old English ceorl, a free man who was not a noble, which is why name lists often give "free man". The emperor Charlemagne, Carolus Magnus, made the name royal across Europe, and Spain has had several kings called Carlos. In India the name is used in Goa and among Christian families with Portuguese ties. Its two clear syllables sit well with Indian surnames.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Carlos; Charles · entry Carlos · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Carlos · Online Etymology Dictionary, Charles · Online Etymology Dictionary, churl
Popularity abroad
- #150 United States, boys 2025 (down 15 from 135 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Carlos · Karlos · Carlo