The story behind Carlos
Borrowed from Portuguese and Spanish Carlos. Doublet of Carl, Charles, and Karl.
Other language forms and explanations (4)
Portuguese entry
From Latin Carolus, of Germanic origin. Doublet of Charles.
Spanish entry
Inherited from Latin Carolus, of Germanic origin. The preserved -s from the Latin nominative is unusual, perhaps originally used as a vocative; compare dios.
Galician entry
a male given name from Latin [in turn from the Germanic languages], equivalent to English Charles, Carl, or Karl
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from Spanish Carlos.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈkɑɹ.loʊs/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɑː.lɒs/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈkaʁ.lus/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [ˈkaɦ.lus]
- Portuguese; São-Paulo: /ˈkaɾ.lus/
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: /ˈkaʁ.luʃ/
- Portuguese; Caipira: /ˈkaɻ.lus/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈkaɾ.luʃ/
- Spanish: /ˈkaɾlos/
- Spanish: [ˈkaɾ.los]
- Galician: /ˈkaɾlos/
- Galician: [ˈkɑɾ.los̺]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈkaɾlos/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈk̠aɾ.los]
Popularity
Carlos ranked #150 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Carlos
Cassius
Borrowed from Latin Cassius, a Roman name derived from the gens Cassia.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Claudius
From Latin Claudius. Doublet of Claude.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Achilles
Borrowed from Latin Achillēs, from Ancient Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Akhilleús). Learned borrowing from Latin Achillēs. Doublet of Achil.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amós
Borrowed from Latin Amos, from Hebrew עמוס.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Blasius
From Late Latin Blasius, name of a 3rd-4th century Armenian saint, possibly from Latin blaesus (“stammering”), or Latinized from an Ancient Greek name. Doublet of Blaise.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Brutus
From Latin Brutus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Carlos
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Carlos
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length