Leif vs Carl

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Leif

Boy #926 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"heir, descendant, beloved"

Origin: Old Norse

Scandinavian Norwegian Swedish Danish Icelandic

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Boy #1,035 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"free man"

Origin: Old High German 'karl'

English American German Scandinavian

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Leif Rank #926

Carl Rank #1,035

Leif is more popular, ranked #926 vs #1035 for Carl.

Is Leif or Carl more popular?

Leif is more popular, ranked #926 compared to Carl at #1035 in the United States.

What do Leif and Carl mean?

Leif means "heir, descendant, beloved" (Old Norse origin). Carl means "free man" (Old High German 'karl' origin).

Are Leif and Carl boy or girl names?

Leif is primarily a boy name. Carl is primarily a boy name.