Earl is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Earl means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Earl across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Earl has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Earl is a boy name of Old English origin meaning “nobleman, warrior”. from the English noble rank.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 291,421 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 177 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 22 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Earl per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1921 (6,797/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2007 (12/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1972 (5/yr).
Earl has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1921, when it ranked #72 nationally (given to 6,797 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Arlo · Earle · Errol · Yareli · Early · Earlie · Arla · Arly
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