Boy name · Old English
Earl
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: nobleman, warriorEarl is a boy's name that comes from Old English and means "nobleman, warrior". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Nobleman, warrior
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #2236 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Earl
As a boy's name, Earl comes from Old English and means "nobleman, warrior". It is used in English.
Earl is also a surname: the 2,312th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 15,377 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Earl on our names that mean warrior list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Earl on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Earl on 7 lists.
“An old English title of nobility with farmhouse warmth”
From Redneck names for boys, classic country boy names
“A British title for a cat with fine manners”
From Boy cat names, royal and rank names for boy cats
“Sounds like he runs the local hardware store”
From Boy dog names, human names for boy dogs
“Nobleman, warrior; Old English. An aristocratic title turned name”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“Simple, sturdy and Southern”
From Porch goose names, southern and country porch goose names
“Short for earthworm, sort of, and very dignified”
From Worm names, funny worm names
“Nobleman, warrior; Old English. An aristocratic title turned name”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
How popular is Earl?
- US rank in 2025
- #2,236
- 63 babies, 37 per million boys
- Best rank
- #20 in 1894
- Most babies: 6,754 in 1921
- Babies since 1880
- At least 289,174
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 4,409 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 7,272 per million |
| 1900s | 6,814 per million |
| 1910s | 6,033 per million |
| 1920s | 5,772 per million |
| 1930s | 4,222 per million |
| 1940s | 2,628 per million |
| 1950s | 1,615 per million |
| 1960s | 1,057 per million |
| 1970s | 690 per million |
| 1980s | 401 per million |
| 1990s | 201 per million |
| 2000s | 95 per million |
| 2010s | 59 per million |
| 2020s | 42 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,525 | #1,480 | #1,649 | #1,664 | #2,075 | #1,667 | #1,971 | #2,251 | #2,158 | #2,236 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Earl
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- EmilRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
- EzraHelp, assistance (Hebrew, boy)
- EeroEver ruler, Finnish form of Eric (Old Norse, boy)
- ErolBrave (Turkish, boy)
- EyalStrength, might (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- LouisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LuisaFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AloysiusFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DuncanBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- FinleyFair warrior (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- IvorYew warrior (Old Norse, boy)
- LewisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
Middle names for Earl
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
Earl: common questions
What does the name Earl mean?
Earl comes from Old English and means "nobleman, warrior".
Is Earl a boy or girl name?
Earl is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Earl come from?
Earl comes from Old English and means "nobleman, warrior". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Earl?
Earl ranked #2,236 in the US in 2025, with 63 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Earl?
Names spelled like Earl include Emil, Ezra, Eero, Erol and Eyal.
What middle names go with Earl?
Middle names that flow well with Earl include Ansel, Grant, Howell, Joseph and Matthew. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.