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How Many People Are Named Carl?
Estimated people named Carl living in the U.S. today
240,556
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 507,825
- Peak year: 1956 (8,346 births)
- Estimated living today: 240,556
Carl by age group — who carries the name today?
Carl popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Carl
Carl has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 507,825 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 240,556 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,421 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Carls you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Carl in the US?
An estimated 240,556 people named Carl are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Carl uncommon — about 1 in 1,421 Americans.
Is Carl a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Carl is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Carl most popular?
Carl peaked in 1956, when 8,346 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Carl?
Carl ranks #214 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 37 out of 100 (higher means rarer).