How Many People Are Named Carl?
Complete statistics for the name Carl: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Carl means 'manly' and has a strong Old German heritage. There are 229,702 people named Carl in the US, making up 1 in 1,437 Americans. With 79% over 60, it's clear this name skews older.
📖 Meaning & Origin
It's believed that those with the life path number 7 are deep thinkers and seekers of knowledge.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 80All 507,453 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1956Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Carl Through the Generations
Over the decades, Carl has seen its popularity rise and fall. In 1956, it peaked with 8,346 births, but since then, it's been on a steady decline. Today, most people named Carl are over 60, with 403,113 individuals in that age bracket, reflecting a generation gap in naming trends.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Carl
Carl is the English spelling of the North Germanic male given name meaning "free man". The name originates in Old Norse. It is the first name of many Kings of Sweden including Carl XVI Gustaf. It is a variant of the English Charles, and the Latin Carolus.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Carl's Old German roots
📄 About the Name Carl
How Many People Have the Name Carl?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,555 people in the United States currently share the name Carl. That works out to roughly 1 in every 31,402 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Carl a Common or Rare Name?
Carl is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Carl Mean?
Carl means "manly" and comes from Old German origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Carl in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Carl Most Popular?
The name Carl reached peak popularity in 1956, with 8,346 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Carl?
Approximately 10,555 people named Carl live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,555. That works out to roughly 1 in 31,402 Americans.
Is Carl a rare name?
Carl is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 31,402 Americans has this name.
What does the name Carl mean?
Carl means "manly" and comes from Old German origins.
Is Carl more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Carl are male and 1% are female.
When was Carl most popular?
Carl peaked in 1956 with 8,346 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.