Where does the name Earl come from?

Earl is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Earl a boy or a girl name?

Earl is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Earl are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Earl in 2023?

Earl ranks #2251 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1921 with 6,797 babies.

How do you pronounce Earl?

Earl is pronounced ERL (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Earl?

Earl is also written as Earle, Erle.

A name from Old English · Boy

Earl

From Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl. Used as a given name in America from the 19th century, often as a marker of aspiration.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

289,043 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

63 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

EFrom Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl. Used as a given name in America from the 19th century, often as a marker of aspiration.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Earl".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Earle Most common Erle

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Earl.

E
Earl Warren (U.S. Chief Justice)
E
Earl Scruggs (banjo virtuoso)
E
Earl Sweatshirt (rapper)

Quick answers

People often ask about Earl.

What does the name Earl mean?: Earl means from Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl. Used as a given name in America from the 19th century, often as a marker of aspiration.
Where does the name Earl come from?: Earl is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Earl a boy or a girl name?: Earl is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Earl are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Earl in 2023?: Earl ranks #2251 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1921 with 6,797 babies.
How do you pronounce Earl?: Earl is pronounced ERL (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Earl?: Earl is also written as Earle, Erle.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.