Meaning & History
Carlos is a Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles. The name derives from the Germanic word karl meaning "man" or possibly from harjaz meaning "army". It rose to prominence in Europe thanks to Charlemagne (Charles the Great), the 8th-century Frankish king whose name became synonymous with kingship, influencing words for "king" in Slavic and other languages.
Historical Bearers
In the Iberian Peninsula, the name was borne by numerous monarchs. Carlos I of Portugal reigned until his assassination in 1908, while Carlos II was the last Habsburg king of Spain. Several Spanish kings, including Carlos III and Carlos IV, bear the name. Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, led the Carlist faction in Spain during the 19th century.
Variants and Cultural Reach
Carlos has many diminutives, such as Carlitos and Carlinhos in Portuguese, and related names across languages, including Catalan Carles and Corsican Carlu. Feminine forms include Carla and Carolina. The name remains popular in Hispanic and Portuguese-speaking countries.
- Meaning: "man" or "army"
- Origin: Germanic
- Type: Given name
- Usage: Spanish, Portuguese
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Carlos (given name)