Carl vs Gary

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 #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Carl Rank #1,035

Gary Rank #1,133

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1133 for Gary.

Is Carl or Gary more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Gary at #1133 in the United States.

What do Carl and Gary mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin).

Are Carl and Gary boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Gary is primarily a boy name.