Gary vs Carl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

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

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Gary Rank #1,133

Carl Rank #1,035

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1133 for Gary.

Is Gary or Carl more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Gary at #1133 in the United States.

What do Gary and Carl mean?

Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin). Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin).

Are Gary and Carl boy or girl names?

Gary is primarily a boy name. Carl is primarily a boy name.