Whose name inspired the name of MacLaren's Pub?

Carl MacLaren inspired the name of MacLaren's Pub in How I Met Your Mother.

Carl MacLaren was Carter Bays's assistant during the show's early years. The fictional pub's name was taken from his surname, and the bartender who works there is also named Carl, creating a behind-the-scenes joke that became part of the show's world.

MacLaren's itself was not copied from one single bar. Its design and atmosphere drew on several New York drinking spots associated with creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, especially McGee's, a Midtown tavern near the Ed Sullivan Theater where they worked on Late Show with David Letterman.

That real-world connection explains why the pub feels central rather than decorative. Ted, Marshall, Lily, Barney, and Robin use it as their regular meeting place, where major romances, arguments, schemes, and catchphrases unfold. Fans sometimes assume the name honors Craig Thomas or Carter Bays, but the creators' own connection is through the assistant Carl MacLaren; the show's bartender is an intentional additional nod.