Carl vs Ernest

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 #1,085 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"serious, determined, vigorous"

Origin: Old High German

English German French

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Ernest Rank #1,085

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1085 for Ernest.

Is Carl or Ernest more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Ernest at #1085 in the United States.

What do Carl and Ernest mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Ernest means "serious, determined, vigorous" (Old High German origin).

Are Carl and Ernest boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Ernest is primarily a boy name.