Carol vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Carol

Girl #2,640 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"song of joy, joyful song"

Origin: Old French

English American Welsh Irish

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Carol Rank #2,640

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #2640 for Carol.

Is Carol or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Carol at #2640 in the United States.

What do Carol and Richard mean?

Carol means "song of joy, joyful song" (Old French origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Carol and Richard boy or girl names?

Carol is primarily a girl name. Richard is primarily a boy name.