Carl Boy

Popularity: #710 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Pronunciationkarl / /kɑːrl/

German; Scandinavian; Dutch

Meaning

German: free man; Scandinavian: strong; Dutch: man

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Carl has roots in the Germanic word 'karal,' meaning 'man' or 'free man.' It has been a popular name in various cultures, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia. The name has been borne by numerous kings and historical figures, contributing to its enduring popularity.

Trend Summary

Carl has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the early to mid-20th century.

Similar Names

CharlesCharlieKurtCarltonCarterCyrusCalvinCaleb

Variants

  • Karl
  • Carlo
  • Carlos

International Variants

  • Károly (Hungarian)
  • Carlo (Italian)
  • Carlos (Spanish)
  • Karl (Swedish)
  • Karel (Czech)

Famous people named Carl

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology.

Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, cosmologist, and science communicator known for his work in popularizing science.

Carl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician who made significant contributions to many fields, including number theory and statistics.

Carl Lewis is an American former track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals.

Fictional characters named Carl

Carl Fredricksen is the main character in the animated film 'Up,' known for his adventurous spirit.

Carl Grimes is a character in the comic book series and television show 'The Walking Dead,' known for his growth and resilience.

Sibling Suggestions

MarkPaulJohnDavidPeterJames

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Carl was first seen in the United States in 1880. Carl has ranked as high as #97 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and California. In the past 5 years the name Carl has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Carl (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 16
10%
FL 15
9%
TX 13
8%
PA 13
8%
OH 12
7%
NY 9
5%
MI 8
5%
TN 8
5%
MN 7
4%
MO 7
4%
WA 7
4%
GA 7
4%
WI 7
4%
IL 7
4%
IN 7
4%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880372
1881359
1882478
1883480
1884521
1885494
1886556
1887588
1888675
1889704
1890693
1891675
1892808
1893786
1894861
1895851
1896852
1897828
1898919
1899774
19001,016
1901817
1902952
1903910
1904953
1905959
1906951
19071,018
19081,074
19091,215
19101,339
19111,574
19123,224
19133,935
19144,807
19156,613
19166,786
19176,699
19187,003
19196,474
19207,010
19217,077
19226,690
19236,871
19247,085
19257,061
19266,939
19277,277
19286,946
19296,895
19306,952
19316,582
19326,714
19336,187
19346,683
19356,693
19366,591
19376,914
19386,848
19396,593
19406,752
19417,161
19427,267
19437,473
19446,824
19456,314
19467,380
19478,051
19487,828
19497,689
19507,288
19517,640
19527,825
19537,829
19548,136
19558,293
19568,314
19578,192
19587,733
19597,504
19607,806
19617,257
19626,851
19637,128
19646,661
19655,797
19665,227
19674,891
19684,645
19694,522
19704,401
19714,056
19723,406
19733,013
19742,895
19752,810
19762,670
19772,615
19782,606
19792,898
19802,935
19812,793
19822,802
19832,606
19842,567
19852,526
19862,445
19872,223
19882,317
19892,258
19902,191
19911,922
19921,782
19931,585
19941,415
19951,380
19961,184
19971,093
19981,147
1999996
2000988
2001882
2002784
2003775
2004752
2005652
2006658
2007628
2008559
2009519
2010449
2011426
2012487
2013446
2014436
2015457
2016445
2017415
2018343
2019319
2020286
2021245
2022220
2023233
2024215