Carlo vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Carlo

Boy #918 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"free man"

Origin: Old High German

Cultural Roots

Italian Spanish Portuguese Filipino

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#918
Total SSA Count
253
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Carl, Lito, Car

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Carlo →

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

Carlo Rank #918
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #918 for Carlo.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Carlo ___

  • Carlo Antonio
  • Carlo Giovanni
  • Carlo Matteo
  • Carlo Lorenzo
  • Carlo Salvatore
  • Carlo Francesco

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Carlo

Marco Luca Sofia Giulia Lorenzo

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carlo or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Carlo at #918 in the United States.

What do Carlo and James mean?

Carlo means "free man" (Old High German origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Carlo and James boy or girl names?

Carlo is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Carlo ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names