Charlize

Charlize is a South African (Afrikaans) female version of Charles. Charles, in turn, is ultimately derived from the German masculine name Karl/Carl (from the Germanic “karl” meaning “free man”); therefore, Charlize essentially means “free woman”. In ancient times, the Germanic term “karl” signified a “free” man but not one of nobility; i.e., from the same medieval root as the Olde English word “ceorl” which stood for “man of low birth, a common man”. In the later Middle High German or Middle English, however, both terms evolved their definitions to mean more simply “man, fellow, husband”. Despite the name’s rather “lowly” beginnings, many Europeans of high rank and those among the royalty bore names derived from Karl/Carl (such as Charlemagne, Charles, Caroline and Charlotte). In fact, the 8th/9th century Frankish leader, Charlemagne (Charles the Great), had a lot to do with the name’s perpetuation among the earlier Franks (a Germanic tribe and precursors to the French people). Charlize is a version developed among South Africans (who tended toward the “-ize” suffix in the creation of female forms of names). For instance, South African-native Charlize Theron was named after her father, Charles.