Howard vs Carl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Howard Rank #1,056

Carl Rank #1,035

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1056 for Howard.

Is Howard or Carl more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Howard at #1056 in the United States.

What do Howard and Carl mean?

Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin). Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin).

Are Howard and Carl boy or girl names?

Howard is primarily a boy name. Carl is primarily a boy name.