Carl vs Karl

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 #1,684 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man, strong man"

Origin: Old High German

German Scandinavian Austrian Swedish Norwegian

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Karl Rank #1,684

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1684 for Karl.

Is Carl or Karl more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Karl at #1684 in the United States.

What do Carl and Karl mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Karl means "free man, strong man" (Old High German origin).

Are Carl and Karl boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Karl is primarily a boy name.