Carl vs Shepard

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 #942 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"shepherd, one who tends sheep"

Origin: Old English

English American

✓ All Clear

Carl Rank #1,035

Shepard Rank #942

Shepard is more popular, ranked #942 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Carl or Shepard more popular?

Shepard is more popular, ranked #942 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Carl and Shepard mean?

Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin). Shepard means "shepherd, one who tends sheep" (Old English origin).

Are Carl and Shepard boy or girl names?

Carl is primarily a boy name. Shepard is primarily a boy name.