Chaz - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Chaz

Chaz (pronounced CHAZ) is the lively, one-beat spin on Charles—an old Germanic classic that means “free man.” Think of it as Charles slipping off his formal sherwani, grabbing a cup of cutting-chai and joining the dhol players: short, spicy, and impossible to ignore. The name first danced onto U.S. birth charts in the mid-1970s, shot up like a Bollywood firecracker in the ’80s, and still sprinkles its sparkle today, with 46 baby boys in 2024 carrying the torch. Pop culture keeps the rhythm going through namesakes like actor-writer Chazz Palminteri and advocate Chaz Bono, adding a dash of show-time confidence. For parents who want a name that feels both global and grounded—free-spirited yet familiar—Chaz delivers a burst of jazz, a wink of humor, and a promise of open horizons.