Declining since 2021, #496 for girls today.
Popularity of Charli since 1975
Babies named Charli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 81 |
| 1980s | 510 |
| 1990s | 682 |
| 2000s | 1,489 |
| 2010s | 4,704 |
| 2020s | 4,226 |
Meaning & origin
Charli entered U.S. naming records in 1975, but its real rise began in the 2000s. By 2021, it reached its peak rank, but has since trended downward, falling to 496th in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in 2,692 births. The name is especially favored in Oklahoma, Idaho, and Louisiana. As a modern respelling of Charlie, Charli reflects the pattern of using an i-ending to feminize traditional male diminutives, a trend seen in names like Kalli and Emmi.
Charli is a modern spelling variant of Charlie, which itself is a diminutive of Charles. Charles derives from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man'. The spelling with an 'i' instead of 'y' emerged in the late 20th century as a fashionable feminization, influenced by names like Kylie and the popularity of the singer Charli XCX.
Where Charli is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Charli” around the world
Where Charli lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Char, Lili, Lee
Sibling names for Charli
Names that share Charli's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Charli
Names whose popularity has moved with Charli's over the last 50 years.
