Carl vs Howard

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 #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Howard Rank #1,056

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1056 for Howard.

Is Carl or Howard more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Howard at #1056 in the United States.

What do Carl and Howard mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin).

Are Carl and Howard boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Howard is primarily a boy name.