Karl vs Carl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Karl

Boy #1,684 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man, strong man"

Origin: Old High German

German Scandinavian Austrian Swedish Norwegian

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Karl Rank #1,684

Carl Rank #1,035

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 vs #1684 for Karl.

Is Karl or Carl more popular?

Carl is more popular, ranked #1035 compared to Karl at #1684 in the United States.

What do Karl and Carl mean?

Karl means "free man, strong man" (Old High German origin). Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin).

Are Karl and Carl boy or girl names?

Karl is primarily a boy name. Carl is primarily a boy name.