Given name & surname · also Italian
Carlo
“a free man”
Carlo is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Original ItalianCarluccio
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carlo is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Carlo comes from Italian, and ultimately from Germanic.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
How it developed
In Italian use, Carlo is used as a form of Charles.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1894. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlo through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,000
- 15,920 boys · 80 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 276 babies
- 2025
- 276
- #869 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +39%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 276 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 869 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 38.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (58). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,842 as a first name in 2020; 3,485 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carlo’s family of names
In Cebuano usage, Carlo has a diminutive in LITO. Carlo shares a linguistic root with Charles. In Italian usage, Carlo has a conventional equivalent in the Romanian form Carol.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Carlo has relatives in 34 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Germanic roots to each of them.
30 related names in 34 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 30
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Carlottipatronymic from · Italian
- Charlescognate · English, French
- CharlieEnglish
- Carlosdoublet · Portuguese, Spanish
- Carlafeminine form
- KarlGerman, Swedish
- CarolRomanian
- KarolPolish, Slovak
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- KarloEsperanto
- KarelCzech, Slovene
- Charelequivalent
- Caroequivalent
- Claroequivalent
- Carelequivalent
- KarolisLithuanian
- Carolusolder form · Latin
- CarlesCatalan
- Карольequivalent
- Tchålecognate · Walloon
- Κάρλαfeminine form · Greek
- ΚάρολοςGreek
- Siarlequivalent
- KárolyHungarian
- КарлUkrainian, Russian
- KārlisLatvian
- SéarlasIrish
- TeàrlachScottish Gaelic
- KaarleFinnish
- KaarelEstonian
- CharlezBreton
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Carlo
- Carlo GoldoniItalian playwright (1707-1793)
- Carlo AncelottiItalian football player and managerborn 1959
- Carlo CollodiItalian writer (1826–1890)
- Carlo Azeglio CiampiPresident of Italy from 1999 to 20061920–2016
- Carlo RubbiaItalian particle physicistborn 1934
- Bud SpencerItalian actor, lawyer, professional swimmer and water polo player1929–2016
- Carlo BiottiItalian judge1901–1977
- Carlo PontiItalian film producer (1912-2007)
- Charles BorromeoItalian Catholic prelate (1538–1584)
Characters named Carlo: Carlo Rizzi (The Godfather series).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carlo, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arlo
“from the barberry tree”
96% boys · 4% girls
Callan
“one who is powerful in battle” · “a talkative woman”
95% boys · 5% girls
Conrad
“a brave and bold ruler; a bold advisor”
>99% boys
Rio
“woman of the river” · “from the river”
79% boys · 21% girls
Tadeo
“having heart”
>99% boys
Otto
“a wealthy man”
>99% boys
Barrett
“having the strength of a bear” · “an argumentative person”
98% boys · 2% girls
Romeo
“pilgrim to Rome”
>99% boys