Charity comes from the Old French charite, from the Latin caritas, meaning "Christian love" or "generosity to the needy." It is the third theological virtue alongside Faith and Hope (1 Corinthians 13).
Charity has been used in English since the medieval period as a virtue name, becoming popular among Puritans in the 17th century. Today it sits in the U.S. top 700 — quietly used, particularly in evangelical Christian families.
Charity reduces to one — the number of selfless giving.