Carl vs Gerald

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Carl

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

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Boy #1,168 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"rule of the spear, spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

English Irish American

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Carl Rank #1,035

Gerald Rank #1,168

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1168 for Gerald.

Is Carl or Gerald more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Gerald at #1168 in the United States.

What do Carl and Gerald mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Gerald means "rule of the spear, spear ruler" (Germanic origin).

Are Carl and Gerald boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Gerald is primarily a boy name.