Carl

♂ Boy

Pronounced KARL /kɑːrl/High

Meaning: Free man; strong; from Germanic karl (free man, man, fellow) — the same root as Charles, Carlos, Carol, and CharlemagneHigh

In 30 seconds: The Germanic form of Charles meaning 'free man,' from the same karl root that gave us Charlemagne. A one-syllable classic used by astronomer Carl Sagan, philosopher Carl Jung, and Walking Dead character Carl Grimes.

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Origin HighGermanic

MeaningFree man; strong; from Germanic karl (free man, man, fellow) — the same root as Charles, Carlos, Carol, and Charlemagne

U.S. rank (2025)#1134 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births187 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1956

Total births (all-time)≈ 504,822

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Carl is the German and Scandinavian form of Charles, from Germanic karl (free man, strong man). The same root gives Carlos, Charles, Charlemagne, Charlotte, and Carol — one of the most productive naming roots in Western history.

Carl was in the U.S. top 30 from 1880–1970 and has declined since. It ranked #1033 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Carl Sagan's Cosmos (1980) has been called the most widely viewed documentary series in PBS history — his phrase 'billions and billions' became a cultural touchstone, and his name Carl has been associated with cosmic wonder ever since.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Carl — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KarlCharles

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Carl Sagan (1934–1996)
American astronomer, cosmologist, and author who created the TV series Cosmos (1980) and was renowned for popularizing science for general audiences.

If you like Carl…

Charles— the French/English form of the same Germanic name

Karl— the German/Scandinavian alternate spelling of the same name

Clark— one-syllable surname name with the same mid-century classic feel

Coen— another Germanic name

Ralph— shares Carl's Germanic roots

Explore names like Carl

By themeclassic germanic one-syllable scandinavian

By meaningStrength Freedom

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Carl mean?

Carl means 'free man' or 'strong man,' the German/Scandinavian form of Charles, from Germanic karl (free man).

How do you pronounce Carl?

It's said KARL — one syllable, rhyming with 'park.'

Is Carl a boy or girl name?

Carl is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Carl?

Carl ranked #1033 for U.S. boys in 2024.