Karl vs Mayer

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Karl

Boy #1,684 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"free man, strong man"

Origin: Old High German

Cultural Roots

German Scandinavian Austrian Swedish Norwegian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,684
Total SSA Count
99
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Karl →

Mayer

Boy #1,834 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"overseer, tenant farmer"

Origin: German (Middle High German)

Cultural Roots

Jewish German American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,834
Total SSA Count
88
Syllables
2
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
May

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Mayer →

Popularity Comparison

Karl Rank #1,684
Mayer Rank #1,834

Karl is more popular, ranked #1684 vs #1834 for Mayer.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Karl ___

  • Karl Friedrich
  • Karl Heinrich
  • Karl Magnus
  • Karl Erik
  • Karl Gunnar
  • Karl Lars

Mayer ___

  • Mayer Isaac
  • Mayer Elijah
  • Mayer Samuel
  • Mayer David
  • Mayer Louis
  • Mayer Benjamin

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Karl

Hans Brigitte Ingrid Heinz Erika

If you choose Mayer

Ezra Sasha Goldie Levi Miriam

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 Karl or Mayer more popular?

Karl is more popular, ranked #1684 compared to Mayer at #1834 in the United States.

What do Karl and Mayer mean?

Karl means "free man, strong man" (Old High German origin). Mayer means "overseer, tenant farmer" (German (Middle High German) origin).

Are Karl and Mayer boy or girl names?

Karl is primarily a boy name. Mayer is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Karl ← Full profile: Mayer Browse all baby names