Find out how popular the first name Carle has been for the last 34 years (from 1974 to 2007) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Carle by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Carle is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 91% of people named Carle being female.

For the most recent data in 2007, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Carle.

The history of the first name Carle

The name Carle has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically in Old Norse and Old English. It is derived from the word "karl," which meant "man" or "husband." The name likely emerged during the early medieval period, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD.

In Old Norse, the name was spelled "Karl" or "Karli," while in Old English, it took the form of "Carl" or "Ceorl." These variations reflect the linguistic differences between the two closely related Germanic languages. The name was widely used among the Norse and Anglo-Saxon populations of Northern Europe during this period.

One of the earliest recorded historical references to the name Carle can be found in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century AD. In this work, the character Unferth is referred to as "Unferth the Carle," suggesting that the name was already in use at that time.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Carle continued to be popular among Germanic populations. Notable historical figures who bore this name include Charlemagne (742-814 AD), the famous Frankish king and Holy Roman Emperor, whose name was derived from the Old French form "Charles," which itself originated from the Germanic "Karl."

Another notable bearer of the name Carle was Karl the Great (c. 800-876 AD), a Frankish nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Carolingian Empire. In the 12th century, Carle of Louvain (c. 1084-1127 AD) was a powerful nobleman and military commander who served under Godfrey of Bouillon during the First Crusade.

During the Renaissance period, the name Carle remained in use, particularly in German-speaking regions. One notable figure from this era was Carl von Linné (1707-1778), the Swedish botanist and zoologist better known as Carolus Linnaeus, who is celebrated for his contributions to the binomial nomenclature system of classification.

In the 19th century, the German composer Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) was a prominent figure in the development of Romantic opera. His works, such as "Der Freischütz," helped shape the course of German music during this period.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Carle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Carle, please contact us.

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