Carl
Carl is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free man.
Origin and history
Carl is a traditionally masculine name of Germanic origin meaning 'free man'. While predominantly given to males, U.S. birth records show it was occasionally used for females in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is now extremely rare for female newborns in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
3,190 babies in the United States have been named Carl since 1880. It ranks #3149 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (22 %)
- CA (19.3 %)
- IL (11.5 %)
- OH (11.2 %)
- NY (8.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 34 |
| 1890-1900 | 91 |
| 1900-1910 | 86 |
| 1910-1920 | 313 |
| 1920-1930 | 495 |
| 1930-1940 | 411 |
| 1940-1950 | 316 |
| 1950-1960 | 312 |
| 1960-1970 | 399 |
| 1970-1980 | 387 |
| 1980-1990 | 309 |
| 1990-2000 | 37 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Derived from the Proto-Germanic word *karilaz, meaning 'free man'.
- Over 3,000 female babies were named Carl in the U.S. between 1880 and the mid-20th century.