Earl

Meaning of Earl

The name Earl means 'nobleman' or 'chief'. It comes from an Old English title for a high-ranking warrior or lord.

Earl has Old English roots — browse every Old English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Earl

After ranking as high as #712 in 2000, Earl has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Earl

• Earl Warren
  US Supreme Court Chief Justice
• Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe
  NBA Hall of Fame basketball player
• Earl Campbell
  NFL Hall of Fame running back
• Earl Scruggs
  Legendary bluegrass banjo player
• Earl Hines
  Influential jazz pianist, bandleader

More Old English names

Questions about the name Earl

What does the name Earl mean?

Earl means the name earl means 'nobleman' or 'chief'. it comes from an old english title for a high-ranking warrior or lord, and it comes from Old English origins.

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

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

How popular is the name Earl?

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

When was Earl most popular?

Earl peaked at #712 in 2000.