Carl vs Alec

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Carl

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Boy #880 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek

English Scottish American European

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Alec Rank #880

Alec is more popular, ranked #880 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Carl or Alec more popular?

Alec is more popular, ranked #880 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Carl and Alec mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Alec means "defender of men" (Greek origin).

Are Carl and Alec boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Alec is primarily a boy name.