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Carl

Boy name · 217 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Carl: 217 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 1997.

Originating from the Old Norse and Germanic *karl* meaning “free man” or simply “man,” Carl is the Germanic cognate of Charles and has been used across Scandinavia and Scotland for centuries. Notable bearers include psychologist Carl Jung, astronomer Carl Sagan, and Olympic sprinter Carl Lewis, each leaving a distinct mark on their fields. The name’s root appears in place names like Carlsbad, California, which was itself named after the famous Czech spa town. In Scotland, Carl has been a steady but modest presence, often chosen as a more direct, strong-sounding alternative to Charles, and it shares a linguistic link with the word “churl,” which originally meant “freeman” before shifting in meaning.