Carl
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Free man — unbounded spirit and self-reliant
Origin: Germanic/Old Norse
Popularity: Ranked #1134 in 2025 with 187 babies born.
History: Carl is the Germanic and Scandinavian form of Charles, from the Old High German 'karl' meaning man or free man. It has been a common name in German-speaking countries for centuries and was very popular in the United States throughout the 20th century.
Famous people named Carl: Carl Sagan (astronomer), Carl Jung (psychologist)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Carl? About 1 in 17,799 babies born in 2025 were named Carl, or roughly 0.5 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Carl
What does the name Carl mean?
Carl means “Free man — unbounded spirit and self-reliant” from Germanic/Old Norse roots.
What is the origin of the name Carl?
Carl has Germanic/Old Norse origin. The traditional meaning is “Free man — unbounded spirit and self-reliant”.
How popular is Carl?
Carl ranked #1132 in 2025 — given to 187 babies that year.
When was Carl most popular?
Carl peaked in 1956 with 8,314 babies registered that year.
Is Carl a boy or girl name?
Carl is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Carls in registered births are male.
Is the name Carl rising or falling in popularity?
Carl has fallen 321 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #811 in 2020 to #1132 in 2025.
How long has Carl been recorded?
Carl appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.