Charles vs Robert
Charles and Robertcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Charles was ranked #64 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #160 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Charles was ranked #84 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #144 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Charles was ranked #188 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #119 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Charles was ranked #455 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Charles and Robert over time
Charles and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 265 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Charles in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Charles in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Charles moved ahead of Robert in England and Wales · Boys — #50 and #47 the year before became #48 and #50.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Charles and Robert averaged 25.6 places apart, ending at #119 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Charles and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1952 to 2003, ending at #84 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Charles #41 in 1998, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1945–2025
Charles held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robert in 63.
Highest recorded here: Charles #177 in 1949, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charles #455, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Charles held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 62.
Highest recorded here: Charles #43 in 1964, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charles #188, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys47 shared years, 1954–2012
Charles held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Robert in 40.
Highest recorded here: Charles #58 in 2008, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order changed in 2005: Charles moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #87 and #82; by 2005 that had become #70 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Charles #64, Robert #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1952–2003
Charles held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robert in 32.
Highest recorded here: Charles #57 in 1952, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order changed in 2002: Charles moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #84 and #80; by 2002 that had become #89 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Charles #84, Robert #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Charles held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Robert in 6.
Highest recorded here: Charles #41 in 1998, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Charles moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #50 and #47; by 2002 that had become #48 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charles #119, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Charles held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Robert in 26.
Highest recorded here: Charles #75 in 2000, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charles #144, Robert #93.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Charles | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #94 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Charles does not have one recorded yet.
- Charles and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Charles doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Charles
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #224 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys