Carl
KAHRL
A classic Germanic name meaning “man” or “strong man,” closely tied to Charles.
Meaning
Carl is a Germanic name related to Charles, ultimately from the old Germanic root seen in Old English carl, meaning “man.” In the 19th-century sources, it is glossed as “man” and also connected with forms meaning “strong man” or “valiant man,” which fits the broader Charles/Carl family of names.
Origin
Old High GermanGermanicDutchGermanItalianFrenchmasculine
Fun fact
The name traveled widely across Europe, appearing in forms like Karl, Carlo, and Carloman.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.