Total births
2,508
Unisex name · since 1914
Charleston
Since 1914, U.S. Social Security records show 2,508 babies named Charleston, peaking in 2015. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2795
- among boys today
- 2,508
- born since 1914
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other boys
Charleston currently ranks #2795 among unisex names in America, with 2,508 babies recorded since 1914.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Charleston has been recorded 2,508 times among boys since 1914, currently ranked #2795 nationally and more common than 80% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1914 to 2025.
- #2795 among boys today
- 2,508 born since 1914
- 2010s peak decade
- 80% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Charleston is currently the #2795 unisex name in America, more common than 80% of boys - 2,508 born since 1914, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2795
- among boys today
- 2,508
- born since 1914
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 80%
- more common than other boys
Charleston vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2795
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 80% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
24% of everyone ever named Charleston was born in this single decade.
2015
Single peak year
88 babies were named Charleston in 2015 - its busiest year on record.
How Charleston compares
2,508 Top 19% higher than 81% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Charleston's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Charleston | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,508 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 88 | 23 | 22,252 |
Charleston's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Charleston's SSA record in two at 1978 and the more recent half accounts for 79% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 21%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1914, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2015 peak of 88, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Charleston at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2015
Current rank
#2,795
Active since
1914
Charleston popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1914–2025
- Peak year (2015)
- 88
- Annual births at peak, across 112 years of records
Charleston popularity over time - girls
1,305 total births recorded since 1997 (Charleston as girls' name)
Charleston by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Charleston's strongest decade.
609 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Charleston births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 22
1910s
22 births
- 1920s 64
1920s
64 births
- 1930s 23
1930s
23 births
- 1940s 32
1940s
32 births
- 1950s 99
1950s
99 births
- 1960s 125
1960s
125 births
- 1970s 202
1970s
202 births
- 1980s
1980s
336 births
- 1990s
1990s
374 births
- 2000s
2000s
350 births
- 2010s
2010s
609 births
- 2020s
2020s
272 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 609 births (24% of all-time use).
How Charleston compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Charleston's total volume
Charleston vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Charleston by state
Where Charleston concentrates geographically, total births since 1914
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 226 | 9.0% |
| #2 | Louisiana | | 90 | 3.6% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 89 | 3.5% |
| #4 | Florida | | 31 | 1.2% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 31 | 1.2% |
| #6 | California | | 30 | 1.2% |
| #7 | Alabama | | 25 | 1.0% |
| #8 | South Carolina | | 12 | 0.5% |
Texas share of Charleston's total US births 9.0%
Even split
226 of 2,508 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Charleston appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Charleston? ▼
2,508 babies have been named Charleston since 1914. It currently ranks #2795 among boys. The peak year was 2015 with 88 births.
When was Charleston most popular? ▼
Charleston was most popular in the 2010s decade with 609 total births. The single peak year was 2015.
Where is Charleston most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Charleston are Texas (226 births), Louisiana (90 births), Georgia (89 births).
Is Charleston a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Charleston is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,508 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,305 births.
How long has the name Charleston been used? ▼
Records for Charleston go back to 1914, giving 112 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Charleston? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Charles, Chad, Charlie, Chase, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Charleston's data
- Charleston's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (609 total births) through the 2020s (272) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Charlestons (226 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Charleston
Nearby Names Like Charleston
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Charleston
Charles Boy
#51 2,434,659 births
Chad Boy
#1814 240,728 births
Charlie Boy
#176 184,280 births
Chase Boy
#173 181,160 births
Chance Boy
#418 54,622 births
Compare Charleston side by side: Charleston vs Charles Charleston vs Chad Charleston vs Charlie
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Charleston
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1914–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Charleston: #2795 Unisex Name - 2,508 Births, Peak 2015." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/charleston. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Charleston draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.