The story behind Carl
From Germanic, cognate with English Charles. * From German and other north European Carl and Karl. * From Latin Carolus.
Pronunciation
non-rhotic: /kɑːl/
Regional pronunciation variants
- rhotic: /kɑɹl/
- Scotland: /kaɾ(ə)l/
Popularity
Carl ranked #1134 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Carl
Karl
From German and North Germanic (Scandinavian) Karl, from Germanic. Doublet of Charles. From Old Norse Karl, from karl (“free man”), originally a nickname. Popularized by the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Curt
A male given name from the Germanic languages, an anglicized spelling of Kurt
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Cəbrayıl
From Arabic جبرائيل
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Carol
Shortened from Caroline. Associated by folk etymology with the English noun carol. Shortened from Latin Carolus; also an Anglicization of Romanian Carol, or Polish or Slovak…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- similar length
- same starting sound
Carrol
A female given name from the Germanic languages, of less common usage, variant of Carol.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- similar length
- same starting sound
Earl
From earl (“nobleman”).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Carl
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ida
Short form of obsolete names beginning with Germanic īd "work", used for both sexes in medieval England. It was revived in the 19th century, partly mistaken for a Greek name,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Carl
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Anne
From French Anne (“Ann”), from Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Arne
For the given name, a short form of Old Norse compound names beginning with arn- (“eagle”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection