Boy
Carl
free man, strong man
About Carl
This classic name carries a timeless quality that transcends generations. Carl represents strength combined with approachability, making it an excellent choice for parents seeking something traditional yet distinctive. The name has maintained steady popularity without ever becoming overly common, striking that perfect balance between familiarity and uniqueness. Boys named Carl often grow into confident, dependable individuals who command respect in both personal and professional settings. The name's simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across various languages and cultures, which is increasingly valuable in our globalized world. Carl pairs beautifully with both traditional and modern middle names, offering flexibility in creating the perfect combination. The one-syllable structure gives it a strong, decisive quality that resonates well throughout different life stages, from childhood through adulthood. Parents choosing Carl demonstrate an appreciation for enduring values and understated elegance.
Popularity of the Name Carl
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #42 | ||||
| 1881 | #41 | ||||
| 1882 | #35 | ||||
| 1883 | #32 | ||||
| 1884 | #36 | ||||
| 1885 | #34 | ||||
| 1886 | #32 | ||||
| 1887 | #28 | ||||
| 1888 | #29 | ||||
| 1889 | #27 | ||||
| 1890 | #27 | ||||
| 1891 | #24 | ||||
| 1892 | #25 | ||||
| 1893 | #24 | ||||
| 1894 | #22 | ||||
| 1895 | #22 | ||||
| 1896 | #25 | ||||
| 1897 | #25 | ||||
| 1898 | #24 | ||||
| 1899 | #25 | ||||
| 1900 | #29 | #111 | |||
| 1901 | #24 | ||||
| 1902 | #24 | ||||
| 1903 | #23 | #112 | |||
| 1904 | #25 | #112 | |||
| 1905 | #26 | #102 | |||
| 1906 | #27 | #107 | |||
| 1907 | #27 | #112 | |||
| 1908 | #29 | #101 | |||
| 1909 | #25 | #107 | |||
| 1910 | #26 | #124 | |||
| 1911 | #26 | #97 | |||
| 1912 | #24 | #112 | |||
| 1913 | #23 | #107 | |||
| 1914 | #24 | #105 | |||
| 1915 | #22 | ||||
| 1916 | #23 | ||||
| 1917 | #24 | ||||
| 1918 | #25 | ||||
| 1919 | #29 | ||||
| 1920 | #27 | ||||
| 1921 | #30 | ||||
| 1922 | #30 | ||||
| 1923 | #28 | ||||
| 1924 | #27 | ||||
| 1925 | #28 | ||||
| 1926 | #26 | ||||
| 1927 | #26 | ||||
| 1928 | #28 | ||||
| 1929 | #28 | #156 | |||
| 1930 | #26 | ||||
| 1931 | #28 | ||||
| 1932 | #28 | ||||
| 1933 | #28 | ||||
| 1934 | #28 | #142 | |||
| 1935 | #28 | ||||
| 1936 | #27 | #131 | |||
| 1937 | #28 | #116 | |||
| 1938 | #29 | #152 | |||
| 1939 | #30 | ||||
| 1940 | #32 | #125 | |||
| 1941 | #29 | ||||
| 1942 | #36 | #174 | |||
| 1943 | #33 | #153 | |||
| 1944 | #36 | #144 | |||
| 1945 | #39 | ||||
| 1946 | #39 | #147 | |||
| 1947 | #40 | #156 | |||
| 1948 | #42 | #168 | |||
| 1949 | #43 | #148 | |||
| 1950 | #44 | #139 | |||
| 1951 | #43 | #149 | |||
| 1952 | #45 | #150 | |||
| 1953 | #44 | #131 | |||
| 1954 | #47 | #117 | |||
| 1955 | #47 | #125 | |||
| 1956 | #48 | #119 | |||
| 1957 | #49 | #119 | |||
| 1958 | #51 | #102 | |||
| 1959 | #54 | #97 | |||
| 1960 | #53 | #99 | |||
| 1961 | #56 | #88 | |||
| 1962 | #58 | #92 | |||
| 1963 | #54 | #83 | |||
| 1964 | #55 | #97 | #148 | ||
| 1965 | #54 | #81 | #117 | ||
| 1966 | #56 | #83 | #144 | ||
| 1967 | #57 | #67 | #123 | ||
| 1968 | #59 | #69 | #122 | ||
| 1969 | #62 | #55 | #105 | ||
| 1970 | #66 | #55 | #107 | ||
| 1971 | #72 | #53 | #111 | ||
| 1972 | #85 | #50 | #112 | ||
| 1973 | #90 | #49 | #122 | ||
| 1974 | #89 | #49 | #110 | ||
| 1975 | #91 | #54 | #111 | ||
| 1976 | #95 | #50 | #109 | ||
| 1977 | #99 | #49 | #119 | ||
| 1978 | #100 | #64 | #127 | ||
| 1979 | #100 | #47 | #121 | ||
| 1980 | #103 | #50 | #138 | ||
| 1981 | #106 | #41 | #128 | ||
| 1982 | #104 | #54 | #116 | ||
| 1983 | #106 | #45 | #136 | ||
| 1984 | #108 | #54 | #118 | ||
| 1985 | #112 | #60 | #112 | ||
| 1986 | #114 | #70 | #125 | ||
| 1987 | #126 | #67 | #110 | ||
| 1988 | #126 | #63 | #120 | ||
| 1989 | #135 | #96 | #97 | ||
| 1990 | #145 | #91 | #111 | ||
| 1991 | #168 | #95 | #111 | #116 | |
| 1992 | #181 | #99 | #108 | #128 | |
| 1993 | #193 | #148 | #102 | #126 | |
| 1994 | #204 | #129 | #115 | #142 | |
| 1995 | #213 | #156 | #111 | #137 | |
| 1996 | #250 | #149 | #118 | #191 | |
| 1997 | #260 | #140 | #172 | #114 | #188 |
| 1998 | #260 | #145 | #263 | #134 | #219 |
| 1999 | #290 | #153 | #284 | #124 | #223 |
| 2000 | #304 | #184 | #244 | #149 | #249 |
| 2001 | #318 | #201 | #225 | #177 | #241 |
| 2002 | #349 | #240 | #343 | #165 | #332 |
| 2003 | #354 | #225 | #168 | #336 | |
| 2004 | #369 | #265 | #347 | #177 | #376 |
| 2005 | #415 | #326 | #185 | #401 | |
| 2006 | #427 | #310 | #241 | #473 | |
| 2007 | #445 | #341 | #272 | #505 | |
| 2008 | #491 | #423 | #290 | #579 | |
| 2009 | #521 | #406 | #304 | #664 | |
| 2010 | #563 | #572 | #664 | ||
| 2011 | #589 | #687 | #410 | #546 | |
| 2012 | #537 | #616 | #339 | #658 | |
| 2013 | #579 | #775 | #546 | #708 | |
| 2014 | #613 | #661 | #434 | #669 | |
| 2015 | #600 | #675 | #725 | #660 | |
| 2016 | #605 | #372 | #510 | ||
| 2017 | #628 | #951 | #734 | #664 | |
| 2018 | #701 | #965 | #628 | ||
| 2019 | #748 | #625 | |||
| 2020 | #813 | #777 | |||
| 2021 | #922 | #896 | |||
| 2023 | #964 | #758 | |||
| 2022 | #880 | ||||
| 2024 | #932 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Carl
Names Similar to Carl
Nicknames for Carl
- Carlo
- Karl
- Carly
- Chuck
Famous People Named Carl
| Carl Sagan | American astronomer and astrophysicist |
| Carl Jung | Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst |
| Carl Linnaeus | Swedish botanist and zoologist |
| Carl Friedrich Gauss | German mathematician |
| Carl Lewis | American Olympic athlete |
| Carl Bernstein | American journalist |
| Carl Orff | German composer |
| Carl Zeiss | German optician and entrepreneur |
| Carl Reiner | American actor and comedian |
| Carl Hagenbeck | German zoo owner and animal trainer |
| Carl Cox | British DJ and music producer |
| Carl Fogarty | British motorcycle racer |
| Carl Weathers | American actor |
| Carl Icahn | American businessman and investor |
| Carl Wilson | American musician - The Beach Boys |
| Carl Landry | American basketball player |
| Carl Edwards | American racing driver |
| Carl Froch | British boxer |
| Carl Frampton | Northern Irish boxer |
| Carl Yastrzemski | American baseball player |
Characters Named Carl
| Carl Grimes | The Walking Dead |
| Carl Fredricksen | Up |
| Carl Winslow | Family Matters |
| Carl Carlson | The Simpsons |
| Carl Brutananadilewski | Aqua Teen Hunger Force |
| Carl Wheezer | Jimmy Neutron |
| Carl Johnson | Grand Theft Auto - San Andreas |
| Carl Gallagher | Shameless |
| Carl Hutchins | Another World |
| Carl Kolchak | Kolchak - The Night Stalker |
| Carl Elias | Person of Interest |
| Carl Bugenhagen | The Omen |
| Carl Burk | Bones |
| Carl Showalter | Fargo |
| Carl Denham | King Kong |
| Carl Grissom | Batman |
| Carl Roberts | CSI - Miami |
| Carl Howell | House of Cards |
| Carl Bentley | MASH |
| Carl Baxter | Prison Break |