How to say it
CHAR · li
ˈtʃɑːr.li
Feminine
Charli
Free man
What it means
A streamlined spelling of Charlie, from Charles and Charlotte, 'free man.'
Charli is the sleek, -i spelling of Charlie, a pet form of Charlotte and Charles, from the Germanic for 'free man.' The look reads modern and distinctly girl. TikTok's Charli D'Amelio and pop star Charli XCX have made the spelling a phenomenon. Said CHAR-lee.
How to spell Charli
The standard spelling is Charli. Common variants include Charlie, Charlee, Charley, but Charli is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #365 in 2021, currently #496 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A respelling of Charlie; also Charlee.
- Pop culture
Charli D'Amelio; Charli XCX.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Charli XCX British singer and songwriter
- Charli D'Amelio American social media personality and dancer
Spelling variants
- Charlie
- Charlee
- Charley
Names with the same feeling
See Charli from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Charli mean?
- A streamlined spelling of Charlie, from Charles and Charlotte, 'free man.'
- What does Charli mean in English?
- In English, Charli means "Free man." Charli is the sleek, -i spelling of Charlie, a pet form of Charlotte and Charles, from the Germanic for 'free man.' The look reads modern and distinctly girl. TikTok's Charli D'Amelio and pop star Charli XCX have made the spelling a phenomenon. Said CHAR-lee.
- Is Charli short for Charlotte?
- Yes. Charli is a short form of Charlotte, and it carries the same meaning, "Free man." These days many parents use Charli as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Charli?
- Charli is pronounced ˈtʃɑːr.li. Say it as CHAR-li, with the stress on the "char" syllable.
- How do you spell Charli?
- The standard spelling is Charli. Common spelling variants include Charlie, Charlee, Charley.
- Is Charli a boy or girl name?
- Charli is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Charli?
- Charli ranked #496 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.