Carl

Meaning of Carl

Carl is a strong name that means 'free man'. It suggests someone independent and self-reliant.

Carl has Germanic roots — browse every Germanic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Carl

After ranking as high as #304 in 2000, Carl has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Carl

• Carl Sagan
  Astrophysicist and science communicator
• Carl Lewis
  Olympic track and field legend
• Carl Weathers
  Actor, Rocky and The Mandalorian
• Carl Benz
  Automobile inventor, Mercedes-Benz founder
• Carl Perkins
  Rockabilly music pioneer

More Germanic names

Questions about the name Carl

What does the name Carl mean?

Carl means carl is a strong name that means 'free man'. it suggests someone independent and self-reliant, and it comes from Germanic origins.

Is Carl a boy's or a girl's name?

Carl is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Carl?

Carl did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Carl most popular?

Carl peaked at #304 in 2000.