Carl vs Denzel

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 #1,036 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high stronghold, fort on the headland"

Origin: Cornish

African-American American Cornish/English

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Denzel Rank #1,036

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1036 for Denzel.

Is Carl or Denzel more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Denzel at #1036 in the United States.

What do Carl and Denzel mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Denzel means "high stronghold, fort on the headland" (Cornish origin).

Are Carl and Denzel boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Denzel is primarily a boy name.