Charles vs Karl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Charles

Boy #51 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"free man"

Origin: Germanic

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Boy #1,684 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man, strong man"

Origin: Old High German

German Scandinavian Austrian Swedish Norwegian

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Charles Rank #51

Karl Rank #1,684

Charles is more popular, ranked #51 vs #1684 for Karl.

Is Charles or Karl more popular?

Charles is more popular, ranked #51 compared to Karl at #1684 in the United States.

What do Charles and Karl mean?

Charles means "free man" (Germanic origin). Karl means "free man, strong man" (Old High German origin).

Are Charles and Karl boy or girl names?

Charles is primarily a boy name. Karl is primarily a boy name.