Charles in Irish: Cathal
The Irish form of Charles is Cathal, a boy's name meaning “great warrior.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Cathal
- Meaning
- Great warrior
- Gender
- Boy
- Also spelled
- Cahal
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 188 for boys (2025)
How do you say Charles in Irish?
Charles in Irish is Cathal, pronounced KA-hal. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Cahal.
What does Cathal mean?
Cathal means “great warrior.” Charles is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Cathal: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Charles in Ireland?
In 2025, 25 baby boys in Ireland were named Charles, which made it No. 188 that year. That's down from No. 114 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1964, when 145 baby boys were named Charles, No. 43 that year. The most babies got the name in 1965: 145. The records go back to 1964, when 145 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | No. 188 |
| 2024 | 14 | No. 287 |
| 2023 | 17 | No. 254 |
| 2022 | 36 | No. 157 |
| 2021 | 32 | No. 168 |
| 2020 | 26 | No. 193 |
| 2019 | 32 | No. 174 |
| 2018 | 37 | No. 159 |
| 2017 | 38 | No. 156 |
| 2016 | 49 | No. 134 |
| 2015 | 61 | No. 114 |
| 2014 | 56 | No. 123 |
| 2013 | 66 | No. 110 |
| 2012 | 59 | No. 122 |
| 2011 | 73 | No. 104 |
| 2010 | 67 | No. 110 |
| 2009 | 77 | No. 99 |
| 2008 | 68 | No. 114 |
| 2007 | 79 | No. 90 |
| 2006 | 79 | No. 83 |
| 2005 | 62 | No. 99 |
| 2004 | 64 | No. 93 |
| 2003 | 52 | No. 104 |
| 2002 | 37 | No. 123 |
| 2001 | 48 | No. 102 |
| 2000 | 34 | No. 126 |
| 1999 | 31 | No. 124 |
| 1998 | 23 | No. 139 |
| 1997 | 23 | No. 154 |
| 1996 | 44 | No. 114 |
| 1995 | 34 | No. 129 |
| 1994 | 22 | No. 149 |
| 1993 | 40 | No. 118 |
| 1992 | 34 | No. 129 |
| 1991 | 38 | No. 121 |
| 1990 | 46 | No. 108 |
| 1989 | 46 | No. 103 |
| 1988 | 41 | No. 115 |
| 1987 | 52 | No. 98 |
| 1986 | 49 | No. 106 |
| 1985 | 47 | No. 109 |
| 1984 | 52 | No. 107 |
| 1983 | 53 | No. 104 |
| 1982 | 66 | No. 93 |
| 1981 | 67 | No. 92 |
| 1980 | 87 | No. 80 |
| 1979 | 64 | No. 98 |
| 1978 | 73 | No. 91 |
| 1977 | 75 | No. 88 |
| 1976 | 73 | No. 93 |
| 1975 | 78 | No. 90 |
| 1974 | 74 | No. 94 |
| 1973 | 84 | No. 90 |
| 1972 | 79 | No. 88 |
| 1971 | 94 | No. 77 |
| 1970 | 114 | No. 62 |
| 1969 | 96 | No. 66 |
| 1968 | 83 | No. 69 |
| 1967 | 104 | No. 56 |
| 1966 | 118 | No. 53 |
| 1965 | 145 | No. 46 |
| 1964 | 145 | No. 43 |
Cathal in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Cathal, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- AAilm, pine
- TTinne, holly
- HUath, hawthorn
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Charles
Questions about Charles
- What is Charles in Irish?
- The Irish form of Charles is Cathal, pronounced KA-hal. Cathal means “great warrior.”
- How do you pronounce Cathal?
- Cathal is pronounced KA-hal. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Charles a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Charles is a boy's name.
- How popular is Charles in Ireland?
- In 2025, Charles was No. 188 for boys in Ireland, with 25 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1964, at No. 43.