Charis () is a given name derived from a Greek word meaning "grace, kindness, and life." It is a unisex name, overwhelmingly used for men in Greece and overwhelmingly used for women elsewhere in the world. 

In Greek mythology, a Charis is one of the Charites () or "Graces", goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility; and in Homer's Iliad, Charis is the wife of Hephaestus. Charis was also known as Cale ("Beauty") or Aglaea ("Splendor").

Charis is also the Spartan name of a Grace.

In the Greek and Hebrew biblical term Charis (χάρις) refers to good will, loving-kindness, favour, in particular to God's merciful grace. It is used over 140 times  in the New Testament and is a central concept in the theology developed by St. Augustine of Hippo.

It is used in the descriptive epithet of many plant genera and species. Including; Ammocharis (meaning sand and beauty), Eleocharis (meaning marsh and beauty), Englerocharis, Eucharis (meaning good and beauty), Hydrocharis (meaning water and beauty), Nomocharis, Argostemma phyllocharis (meaning leaf and beauty) and Pimelea ammocharis.

Notable people
Charis Baniotis (born 1960), Greek footballer
Charis Bekker (born 2004), Australian cricketer
Charis Charisis (born 1995), Greek footballer
Charis Eng (born 1962), Singapore-born physician, scientist and geneticist
Charis Fourkiotis (born 2001), Greek footballer
Charis Frankenburg (1892–1985), British author
Charis Galanakis (born 1981), Greek researcher and scientist
Charis Giannopoulos (born 1989), Greek basketball player
Charis Grammos (born 1948), Greek footballer
Charis Johnson (born 1972), Ponzi scheme operator
Charis Kopitsis (born 1969), Greek footballer and manager
Charis Kostakis (born 1990), Greek footballer
Charis Kostopoulos (born 1964), Greek singer, songwriter, poet and composer
Charis Kubrin, American criminologist
Charis Markopoulos (born 1982), Greek basketball player and coach
Charis Michelsen (born 1974), American actress and writer
Charis Mullen (born 1974), Australian politician
Charis Nicolaou (born 1974), Cypriot footballer
Charis Papageorgiou (born 1953), Greek basketball player
Charis Papazoglou (born 1953), Greek basketball player and coach
Charis Pavely (born 2004), English cricketer
Charis Pavlidis (born 1971), Greek water polo player and coach
Charis Scott (born 2002), Scottish cricketer
Charis Thompson, professor and author
Charis Tsevis (born 1967), Greek visual designer, illustrator and art director
Charis Waddy (1909–2004), Australian-born British author, lecturer and Islamic scholar
Charis Wilson (1914–2009), American model and writer
Charis Yulianto (born 1978), Indonesian footballer

See also

 Charisma
 Charls

References

English feminine given names
Greek feminine given names
Feminine given names
Greek masculine given names
Masculine given names
New Testament Greek words and phrases