UK boy's name
Giancarlo
Italian baby name translating to "John Charles.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Giancarlo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Giancarlo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3996, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 9 births.
This profile covers 59 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 68 living people in the UK are called Giancarlo. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Giancarlo ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 9 boys were registered as Giancarlo.
- • Giancarlo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 1993.
- • About 68 living people in the UK are estimated to have Giancarlo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3996
2017
Births in 2017
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
9 births
Estimated living
68
2026
Meaning
What does Giancarlo mean?
Giancarlo is a masculine given name of Italian origin, formed by a combination of the names Giovanni and Carlo. The name Giovanni traces its roots back to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious," while Carlo is derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man."
The earliest recorded use of the name Giancarlo dates back to the Middle Ages in Italy. During this period, it was common for children to be named after saints or biblical figures, and the name Giancarlo likely emerged as a blend of these two popular names, Giovanni and Carlo.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Giancarlo was Giancarlo Passeroni, an Italian poet and dramatist who lived from 1713 to 1803. He was renowned for his satirical works and plays, which often addressed social and political issues of his time.
Another notable figure was Giancarlo de' Medici (1611-1663), an Italian nobleman and patron of the arts. As a member of the powerful Medici family, he played a significant role in the cultural and artistic life of Florence during the 17th century.
In the 20th century, Giancarlo Menotti (1911-2007) was a renowned Italian-American composer and librettist. He is best known for his operas, such as "Amahl and the Night Visitors," which is considered a classic of modern American opera.
Giancarlo Giannini (born 1942) is an Italian actor and film director who has appeared in numerous acclaimed films, including "Mimì metallurgico ferito nell'onore" and "La scorta." He is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation.
Giancarlo Esposito (born 1958) is an American actor of Italian descent who has gained recognition for his roles in television series such as "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul." He is known for his intense and compelling performances, often portraying complex and morally ambiguous characters.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Giancarlo throughout history. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Italy, the name has since gained popularity and recognition around the world, reflecting its enduring cultural significance and appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Giancarlo over time
The chart below shows babies named Giancarlo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Giancarlo, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2017, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Giancarlo by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Giancarlo was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4425 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3052 | 30 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2301 | 19 | 4 |
Geography
Where Giancarlo is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Giancarlo. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Giancarlo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #378 in 1993.
Across the UK
Giancarlo in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#378 in 1993
3 years of NRS records, 10 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Giancarlo
-
Giancarlo Giancovich
association football player
association football player
1981-
-
Giancarlo Gemin
author; film director
author and film director (1962- )
1962-
Related
Names similar to Giancarlo
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Giancarlo: questions and answers
How popular is the name Giancarlo in the UK right now?
In 2017, Giancarlo was ranked #3996 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Giancarlo most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 9 babies registered as Giancarlo in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Giancarlo?
Italian baby name translating to "John Charles.".
How many people are called Giancarlo in the UK?
A total of 59 babies have been registered as Giancarlo across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 10 more in Scotland.
Where is Giancarlo most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Giancarlo ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #378 in 1993. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.