Fun Facts About the Name Carl
- A favorite across generations: Carl stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 504,822 boys named Carl from 1880 through 2025.
- More than 508 thousand babies named Carl: U.S. records list 508,012 babies given the name Carl from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,190 girls received the name Carl - about 1 girl for every 158 boys.
What Does the Name Carl Mean?
Carl is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It comes from Old High German karl, which meant "man" and more specifically a free man, not a slave. The same Germanic root is behind the Latinized name Carolus and, through French, the English name Charles; Carl is a cognate rather than a form of Charles.
In Old English, the related word ceorl meant a free peasant or commoner and later developed into the modern English word churl, but that English word is not the source of the given name. Carl is also a variant of the German and Scandinavian name Karl, and the two spellings share the same origin.
Carl Name History & Origins
The name goes back to the Germanic word karl, attested in Old High German, Old Saxon, and Old Norse. It was used as a personal name in continental Germanic lands and in Scandinavia, where the usual spelling is Karl. The Latin form Carolus was applied to Charlemagne, whose name is Karl in German and Charles in English.
From the Middle Ages onward, Karl and Carl appeared in German and Scandinavian royal and noble families. In Sweden, for example, the name was borne by several kings, including Carl XII and Carl XVI Gustaf. The spelling Carl is common in Swedish and English, while Karl is standard in German. In English, Carl came into use from German and Scandinavian rather than French, and it is distinct from the older English name Charles.
How Popular is the Name Carl?
Carl has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 1979.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | #12,019 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #10,786 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #7,596 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #9,462 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #11,626 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #5,584 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #3,236 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1987 | #3,115 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1986 | #2,737 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1985 | #3,259 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1984 | #3,340 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1983 | #2,600 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1982 | #2,223 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1981 | #2,787 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1980 | #2,659 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 1979 | #3,454 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #2,241 | 41 | 0.0027% |
| 1977 | #2,310 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1976 | #2,491 | 32 | 0.0022% |
| 1975 | #1,881 | 48 | 0.0033% |
| 1974 | #2,259 | 35 | 0.0024% |
| 1973 | #1,859 | 45 | 0.0031% |
| 1972 | #2,139 | 36 | 0.0024% |
| 1971 | #2,177 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1970 | #1,760 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1969 | #1,901 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1968 | #1,912 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 1967 | #1,851 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1966 | #1,701 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1965 | #2,067 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1964 | #1,921 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1963 | #1,897 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1962 | #1,995 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1961 | #1,897 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #1,502 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 1959 | #1,825 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1958 | #1,632 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1957 | #1,994 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1956 | #1,900 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1955 | #1,884 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1954 | #1,950 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1953 | #2,128 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1952 | #2,418 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #1,530 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1950 | #1,794 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #1,564 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1948 | #1,603 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1947 | #1,702 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1946 | #1,816 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1945 | #1,625 | 26 | 0.0020% |
| 1944 | #1,492 | 30 | 0.0023% |
| 1943 | #1,294 | 40 | 0.0029% |
| 1942 | #1,447 | 32 | 0.0024% |
| 1941 | #1,386 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,354 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1939 | #1,066 | 45 | 0.0041% |
| 1938 | #1,288 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1937 | #1,199 | 36 | 0.0034% |
| 1936 | #1,096 | 41 | 0.0039% |
| 1935 | #1,453 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1934 | #1,150 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1933 | #1,204 | 35 | 0.0035% |
| 1932 | #1,045 | 46 | 0.0043% |
| 1931 | #942 | 54 | 0.0051% |
| 1930 | #959 | 58 | 0.0052% |
| 1929 | #1,032 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1928 | #956 | 61 | 0.0053% |
| 1927 | #1,010 | 57 | 0.0048% |
| 1926 | #1,098 | 47 | 0.0040% |
| 1925 | #1,075 | 50 | 0.0041% |
| 1924 | #1,152 | 46 | 0.0037% |
| 1923 | #1,088 | 49 | 0.0041% |
| 1922 | #1,104 | 48 | 0.0040% |
| 1921 | #1,188 | 42 | 0.0034% |
| 1920 | #1,122 | 45 | 0.0038% |
| 1919 | #1,092 | 45 | 0.0040% |
| 1918 | #1,007 | 51 | 0.0044% |
| 1917 | #1,043 | 46 | 0.0043% |
| 1916 | #1,130 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1915 | #1,290 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1914 | #1,036 | 33 | 0.0043% |
| 1913 | #1,096 | 25 | 0.0040% |
| 1912 | #1,225 | 19 | 0.0034% |
| 1911 | #1,314 | 13 | 0.0031% |
| 1910 | #1,345 | 12 | 0.0030% |
| 1909 | #1,379 | 10 | 0.0029% |
| 1908 | #1,458 | 9 | 0.0027% |
| 1907 | #1,403 | 9 | 0.0028% |
| 1906 | #1,760 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1905 | #1,171 | 11 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #1,509 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,627 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1902 | #1,234 | 9 | 0.0034% |
| 1901 | #1,146 | 9 | 0.0038% |
| 1900 | #1,237 | 10 | 0.0033% |
| 1899 | #1,294 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1898 | #1,274 | 8 | 0.0031% |
| 1897 | #934 | 12 | 0.0051% |
| 1896 | #1,619 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1895 | #866 | 14 | 0.0060% |
| 1894 | #1,007 | 10 | 0.0045% |
| 1893 | #1,194 | 7 | 0.0033% |
| 1892 | #966 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1891 | #900 | 10 | 0.0054% |
| 1890 | #1,017 | 8 | 0.0042% |
| 1889 | #1,163 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1888 | #846 | 10 | 0.0056% |
| 1887 | #959 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1886 | #1,005 | 6 | 0.0042% |
| 1885 | #1,066 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,134 | 187 | 0.0109% |
| 2024 | #1,033 | 215 | 0.0125% |
| 2023 | #963 | 233 | 0.0136% |
| 2022 | #1,012 | 220 | 0.0126% |
| 2021 | #924 | 245 | 0.0140% |
| 2020 | #812 | 286 | 0.0166% |
| 2019 | #748 | 319 | 0.0178% |
| 2018 | #709 | 343 | 0.0189% |
| 2017 | #628 | 415 | 0.0224% |
| 2016 | #605 | 445 | 0.0235% |
| 2015 | #599 | 457 | 0.0238% |
| 2014 | #613 | 436 | 0.0227% |
| 2013 | #578 | 446 | 0.0236% |
| 2012 | #537 | 487 | 0.0257% |
| 2011 | #589 | 426 | 0.0224% |
| 2010 | #563 | 449 | 0.0234% |
| 2009 | #520 | 519 | 0.0262% |
| 2008 | #491 | 559 | 0.0274% |
| 2007 | #445 | 628 | 0.0303% |
| 2006 | #427 | 658 | 0.0320% |
| 2005 | #415 | 652 | 0.0326% |
| 2004 | #369 | 752 | 0.0379% |
| 2003 | #354 | 775 | 0.0392% |
| 2002 | #349 | 784 | 0.0404% |
| 2001 | #318 | 882 | 0.0454% |
| 2000 | #304 | 988 | 0.0503% |
| 1999 | #290 | 996 | 0.0519% |
| 1998 | #260 | 1,147 | 0.0600% |
| 1997 | #260 | 1,093 | 0.0580% |
| 1996 | #250 | 1,184 | 0.0625% |
| 1995 | #213 | 1,380 | 0.0725% |
| 1994 | #204 | 1,415 | 0.0732% |
| 1993 | #193 | 1,585 | 0.0808% |
| 1992 | #181 | 1,782 | 0.0892% |
| 1991 | #168 | 1,922 | 0.0951% |
| 1990 | #145 | 2,191 | 0.1067% |
| 1989 | #135 | 2,258 | 0.1128% |
| 1988 | #126 | 2,317 | 0.1210% |
| 1987 | #126 | 2,223 | 0.1191% |
| 1986 | #114 | 2,445 | 0.1328% |
| 1985 | #112 | 2,526 | 0.1367% |
| 1984 | #108 | 2,567 | 0.1422% |
| 1983 | #106 | 2,606 | 0.1454% |
| 1982 | #104 | 2,802 | 0.1544% |
| 1981 | #106 | 2,793 | 0.1559% |
| 1980 | #103 | 2,935 | 0.1645% |
| 1979 | #100 | 2,898 | 0.1683% |
| 1978 | #100 | 2,606 | 0.1587% |
| 1977 | #99 | 2,615 | 0.1591% |
| 1976 | #95 | 2,670 | 0.1702% |
| 1975 | #91 | 2,810 | 0.1800% |
| 1974 | #89 | 2,895 | 0.1841% |
| 1973 | #90 | 3,013 | 0.1933% |
| 1972 | #85 | 3,406 | 0.2100% |
| 1971 | #72 | 4,056 | 0.2293% |
| 1970 | #66 | 4,401 | 0.2368% |
| 1969 | #62 | 4,522 | 0.2529% |
| 1968 | #59 | 4,645 | 0.2673% |
| 1967 | #57 | 4,891 | 0.2805% |
| 1966 | #56 | 5,227 | 0.2931% |
| 1965 | #54 | 5,797 | 0.3116% |
| 1964 | #55 | 6,661 | 0.3343% |
| 1963 | #54 | 7,128 | 0.3510% |
| 1962 | #58 | 6,851 | 0.3312% |
| 1961 | #56 | 7,257 | 0.3417% |
| 1960 | #53 | 7,806 | 0.3661% |
| 1959 | #54 | 7,504 | 0.3516% |
| 1958 | #51 | 7,733 | 0.3644% |
| 1957 | #49 | 8,192 | 0.3797% |
| 1956 | #48 | 8,314 | 0.3930% |
| 1955 | #47 | 8,293 | 0.4026% |
| 1954 | #47 | 8,136 | 0.3991% |
| 1953 | #44 | 7,829 | 0.3969% |
| 1952 | #45 | 7,825 | 0.4026% |
| 1951 | #43 | 7,640 | 0.4058% |
| 1950 | #44 | 7,288 | 0.4071% |
| 1949 | #43 | 7,689 | 0.4335% |
| 1948 | #42 | 7,828 | 0.4461% |
| 1947 | #40 | 8,051 | 0.4400% |
| 1946 | #39 | 7,380 | 0.4544% |
| 1945 | #39 | 6,314 | 0.4692% |
| 1944 | #36 | 6,824 | 0.5007% |
| 1943 | #33 | 7,473 | 0.5236% |
| 1942 | #36 | 7,267 | 0.5262% |
| 1941 | #29 | 7,161 | 0.5830% |
| 1940 | #32 | 6,752 | 0.5825% |
| 1939 | #30 | 6,593 | 0.5957% |
| 1938 | #29 | 6,848 | 0.6174% |
| 1937 | #28 | 6,914 | 0.6482% |
| 1936 | #27 | 6,591 | 0.6355% |
| 1935 | #28 | 6,693 | 0.6427% |
| 1934 | #28 | 6,683 | 0.6472% |
| 1933 | #28 | 6,187 | 0.6240% |
| 1932 | #28 | 6,714 | 0.6430% |
| 1931 | #28 | 6,582 | 0.6331% |
| 1930 | #26 | 6,952 | 0.6335% |
| 1929 | #28 | 6,895 | 0.6410% |
| 1928 | #28 | 6,946 | 0.6271% |
| 1927 | #26 | 7,277 | 0.6457% |
| 1926 | #26 | 6,939 | 0.6249% |
| 1925 | #28 | 7,061 | 0.6328% |
| 1924 | #27 | 7,085 | 0.6255% |
| 1923 | #28 | 6,871 | 0.6269% |
| 1922 | #30 | 6,690 | 0.6148% |
| 1921 | #30 | 7,077 | 0.6425% |
| 1920 | #27 | 7,010 | 0.6586% |
| 1919 | #29 | 6,474 | 0.6605% |
| 1918 | #25 | 7,003 | 0.6910% |
| 1917 | #24 | 6,699 | 0.7238% |
| 1916 | #23 | 6,786 | 0.7624% |
| 1915 | #22 | 6,613 | 0.7793% |
| 1914 | #24 | 4,807 | 0.7342% |
| 1913 | #23 | 3,935 | 0.7677% |
| 1912 | #24 | 3,224 | 0.7499% |
| 1911 | #26 | 1,574 | 0.6966% |
| 1910 | #26 | 1,339 | 0.6895% |
| 1909 | #25 | 1,215 | 0.7409% |
| 1908 | #29 | 1,074 | 0.6959% |
| 1907 | #27 | 1,018 | 0.6933% |
| 1906 | #27 | 951 | 0.7142% |
| 1905 | #26 | 959 | 0.7248% |
| 1904 | #25 | 953 | 0.7438% |
| 1903 | #23 | 910 | 0.7632% |
| 1902 | #24 | 952 | 0.7761% |
| 1901 | #24 | 817 | 0.7674% |
| 1900 | #29 | 1,016 | 0.6752% |
| 1899 | #25 | 774 | 0.7287% |
| 1898 | #24 | 919 | 0.7491% |
| 1897 | #25 | 828 | 0.7343% |
| 1896 | #25 | 852 | 0.7126% |
| 1895 | #22 | 851 | 0.7249% |
| 1894 | #22 | 861 | 0.7437% |
| 1893 | #24 | 786 | 0.6998% |
| 1892 | #25 | 808 | 0.6621% |
| 1891 | #24 | 675 | 0.6671% |
| 1890 | #27 | 693 | 0.6242% |
| 1889 | #27 | 704 | 0.6366% |
| 1888 | #29 | 675 | 0.5585% |
| 1887 | #28 | 588 | 0.5798% |
| 1886 | #32 | 556 | 0.5019% |
| 1885 | #34 | 494 | 0.4583% |
| 1884 | #36 | 521 | 0.4553% |
| 1883 | #32 | 480 | 0.4588% |
| 1882 | #35 | 478 | 0.4205% |
| 1881 | #41 | 359 | 0.3564% |
| 1880 | #42 | 372 | 0.3367% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
