Carl vs Neil

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 #866 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"cloud"

Origin: Old Irish

Irish Scottish English Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Neil Rank #866

Neil is more popular, ranked #866 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Carl or Neil more popular?

Neil is more popular, ranked #866 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Carl and Neil mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Neil means "cloud" (Old Irish origin).

Are Carl and Neil boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Neil is primarily a boy name.