Carl vs Harold

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 #991 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"army ruler, power of the army"

Origin: Old English

English Scandinavian American

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Harold Rank #991

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Carl or Harold more popular?

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Carl and Harold mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Harold means "army ruler, power of the army" (Old English origin).

Are Carl and Harold boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Harold is primarily a boy name.