Carlos

Meaning of Carlos

Carlos is a Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles. It essentially means 'free man' or 'manhood'.

Carlos has Germanic, Spanish roots — browse every Germanic, Spanish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Carlos

Carlos has cooled off, slipping to #150 in 2025, down from a peak of #59 in 2001.

Notable people named Carlos

• Carlos Santana
  Legendary guitarist, music icon
• Carlos Slim Helú
  Billionaire businessman, investor
• Carlos Tevez
  Argentine soccer star
• Carlos Vela
  Mexican soccer player
• Carlos Gardel
  Famous tango singer, actor

Questions about the name Carlos

What does the name Carlos mean?

Carlos means carlos is a spanish and portuguese form of charles. it essentially means 'free man' or 'manhood', and it comes from Germanic, Spanish origins.

Is Carlos a boy's or a girl's name?

Carlos is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Carlos?

In 2025, Carlos ranked #150 for boys, down from #135 the year before.

When was Carlos most popular?

Carlos peaked at #59 in 2001.