Carl vs Nova

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 #1,180 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"new, young"

Origin: Latin

American English Latin American

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Carl Rank #1,035

Nova Rank #1,180

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1180 for Nova.

Is Carl or Nova more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Nova at #1180 in the United States.

What do Carl and Nova mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Nova means "new, young" (Latin origin).

Are Carl and Nova boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Nova is primarily a boy name.