Charley
A unisex given name. Alternative form of Charlie.
Every Charley since 1880 — 35,321 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Charley
Charley is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,827 in 2025 with 87 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 35,321 American babies have been named Charley — about 68% boys and 32% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2014, when 719 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Charley stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Charley year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 356 | #760 | 87 | #1,827 |
| 2024 | 386 | #730 | 88 | #1,835 |
| 2023 | 388 | #725 | 96 | #1,729 |
| 2022 | 421 | #700 | 86 | #1,855 |
| 2021 | 480 | #618 | 84 | #1,842 |
| 2020 | 561 | #537 | 83 | #1,801 |
| 2019 | 552 | #551 | 86 | #1,791 |
| 2018 | 553 | #563 | 100 | #1,626 |
| 2017 | 611 | #514 | 96 | #1,649 |
| 2016 | 560 | #558 | 79 | #1,878 |
| 2015 | 604 | #520 | 85 | #1,781 |
| 2014 | 641 | #489 | 78 | #1,875 |
| 2013 | 578 | #515 | 89 | #1,675 |
| 2012 | 484 | #597 | 75 | #1,911 |
| 2011 | 462 | #626 | 85 | #1,732 |
| 2010 | 324 | #828 | 92 | #1,678 |
| 2009 | 279 | #959 | 92 | #1,703 |
| 2008 | 263 | #1,006 | 77 | #1,878 |
| 2007 | 239 | #1,089 | 80 | #1,815 |
| 2006 | 226 | #1,108 | 66 | #2,015 |
| 2005 | 192 | #1,192 | 69 | #1,856 |
| 2004 | 168 | #1,274 | 74 | #1,720 |
| 2003 | 122 | #1,582 | 47 | #2,281 |
| 2002 | 93 | #1,901 | 45 | #2,299 |
| 2001 | 73 | #2,217 | 37 | #2,571 |
| 2000 | 73 | #2,177 | 44 | #2,226 |
| 1995 | 60 | #2,221 | 48 | #1,807 |
| 1990 | 56 | #2,261 | 56 | #1,519 |
| 1985 | 46 | #2,230 | 50 | #1,372 |
| 1980 | 15 | #4,761 | 78 | #1,024 |
| 1975 | 9 | #6,043 | 65 | #1,020 |
| 1970 | — | — | 94 | #833 |
| 1965 | — | — | 93 | #766 |
| 1960 | — | — | 134 | #677 |
| 1955 | 7 | #4,808 | 140 | #629 |
| 1950 | 9 | #3,707 | 175 | #506 |
| 1945 | 8 | #3,432 | 156 | #480 |
| 1940 | 13 | #2,320 | 201 | #404 |
| 1935 | 19 | #1,793 | 240 | #355 |
| 1930 | 11 | #2,713 | 289 | #323 |
| 1925 | 22 | #1,854 | 350 | #303 |
| 1920 | 18 | #2,087 | 485 | #249 |
| 1915 | 12 | #2,415 | 414 | #239 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,797 | 181 | #167 |
| 1905 | — | — | 168 | #130 |
| 1900 | — | — | 224 | #103 |
| 1895 | — | — | 178 | #105 |
| 1890 | — | — | 183 | #93 |
| 1885 | — | — | 285 | #65 |
| 1880 | — | — | 305 | #59 |
Famous people named Charley
- Charley Patton Musician · 1891–1934
- Charley Paddock Athlete · 1900–1943
- Charley Chase Actor · 1893–1940
- Charley Toorop Painter · 1891–1955
- Charley Grapewin Actor · 1869–1956
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Charley mean?
A unisex given name. Alternative form of Charlie.
How popular is the name Charley in 2025?
Charley ranked #1,827 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 87 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Charley?
35,321 babies have been named Charley in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Charley most popular?
Charley peaked in 2014, when 719 newborns received the name.
Is Charley a boy or girl name?
Charley is used for both: about 32% of babies named Charley have been girls and 68% boys.
Is the name Charley rising or falling?
Charley is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Charley?
Well-known people named Charley include Charley Patton (musician), Charley Paddock (athlete), Charley Chase (actor).