The name Charlotte is primarily a female name of French origin that means Free.

Charlotte is a name with both English and French origins. The meaning of the name Charlotte is free. It is the feminine form of Charles, with which it shares the nicknames Charlie/Charley. Other common nicknames include
Lottie, Lotta, and Char. A common variation is Carlotta, the Italian form of Charlotte.

The most famous Charlotte is Prince William and Kate Middleton's daughter, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, of the British Royal Family. Kate Middleton's younger sister, Philippa/Pippa Matthews has the middle name Charlotte.

Other royal Charlottes include Charlotte Princess of Monaco, Charlotte of Savoy, and Charlotte of Cypress. Other famous women include authors Charlotte Bronte who wrote Jane Eyre, actresses Charlotte Rae and Charlotte Rampling, singer Charlotte Church, and fashion designer Charlotte Ronson. Charlotte Russe is a popular clothing retailer.

Charlotte is also a popular name in fiction, including the spider in Charlotte's Web (E.B. White), Charlotte Palmer and Charlotte Lucas in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice respectively.