Carl
Carl was the 1134th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 187 babies. Its best year was 1894, when it ranked 22nd; the most babies were born in 1956 (8,313). Over the last ten years it has moved down 534 places. More babies were named Carl in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning German form of Charles, 'man' · German, Germanic
Say it KARL /kɑɹl/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,134 boys, down 321 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 187boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19568,313 babies
- Total since 1880
- 508,017babies recorded
What does the name Carl mean?
Carl is the German and Scandinavian form of Charles, from Germanic karl 'man, free man', as Wiktionary notes; it also reflects Latin Carolus. The same word gave Old English ceorl, a free peasant, and modern English churl. Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus) spread Carolus across Europe. Carl was common among German American families and became a popular American name in the early 20th century.
karl (Old High German, “man, free man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Karl, Charles, Carlos, Carlo, Carol.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Carl', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Charles', DMNES (Durham University)
Carl popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 3,190 since 1885.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,134 | 187 |
| 2020 | #813 | 286 |
| 2010 | #563 | 449 |
| 2000 | #304 | 988 |
| 1990 | #145 | 2,189 |
| 1980 | #103 | 2,935 |
| 1970 | #66 | 4,402 |
| 1960 | #53 | 7,808 |
| 1950 | #44 | 7,288 |
| 1940 | #32 | 6,752 |
| 1930 | #26 | 6,951 |
| 1920 | #27 | 7,010 |
| 1910 | #26 | 1,339 |
| 1900 | #29 | 1,016 |
| 1890 | #27 | 693 |
| 1880 | #42 | 372 |
How popular is Carl, counting every spelling?
Carl is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #813 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,134 for Carl on its own. Together these spellings went to 294 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl | 187 | #1,134 | 1,102 |
| Karl | 107 | #1,593 | 550 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Carl?
187 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Carl (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Carl born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 45 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Carl.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Carl?
About 219,300 people born in the US named Carl are alive today, with a median age of 63; half are between 48 and 73. That makes Carl a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Carl by state
How common Carl was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Ohio (2.1×), Indiana (1.8×), Minnesota (1.7×), Tennessee (1.6×), Missouri (1.6×). In 23 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Carl: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Carl, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Carl · Sibling names for Carl
Carl is also a nickname for Carlton.
Questions about the name Carl
What does Carl mean?
Carl means “German form of Charles, 'man'” (German, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Carl?
Carl was the 1134th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 187 babies. Its best year was 1894, when it ranked 22nd; the most babies were born in 1956 (8,313). Over the last ten years it has moved down 534 places. More babies were named Carl in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Carl a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Carl in the US.
Where is Carl most popular?
In 2021–2025, Carl was most common in Ohio (0.26 per 1,000 boys), followed by Indiana and Kansas.