Charl
/tʃɑːrl/noun
A masculine given name, especially common in Afrikaans and South African usage, functioning as a form of Charles.
Did you know?Charl descends through Charles and Karl, a Germanic name associated with the social distinction between a free person and an enslaved or unfree laborer.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*karlaz
“Free man; adult male”
Early Medieval Period
Old Norse
Karl
“A free peasant or ordinary freeman, contrasted with a nobleman”
8th–9th Century
Old High German
Karal
“Man; free man”
9th Century
Latin
Carolus
“Latinized form of the Germanic personal name Karl”
11th–14th Century
Old French / English
Charles
“Personal name derived from Carolus, widely reinforced by Charlemagne’s fame”
Modern English / Afrikaans
English / Afrikaans
Charl
“A shortened or localized form of Charles, especially used as a masculine given name”