Harold vs Carl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Harold

Boy #991 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"army ruler, power of the army"

Origin: Old English

English Scandinavian American

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

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Harold Rank #991

Carl Rank #1,035

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Harold or Carl more popular?

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Harold and Carl mean?

Harold means "army ruler, power of the army" (Old English origin). Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin).

Are Harold and Carl boy or girl names?

Harold is primarily a boy name. Carl is primarily a boy name.