Meaning and history
Jarl is a Scandinavian masculine name taken from the Old Norse title jarl, denoting a nobleman or regional chieftain. The word is cognate with English earl and originally referred to rank rather than a personal quality. It later became an independent given name in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Notable bearers include Swedish stage and film actor Jarl Kulle and Norwegian poet Jarl André Bjerke. Its meaning is therefore best rendered as “nobleman” or “chieftain.”