Karl
Karl is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free man or man.
Origin and history
Karl is a classic Germanic given name derived from an ancient root meaning 'free man'. It is the original German and Scandinavian form of Charles and has a long history in Europe, particularly among royalty. In the United States, it has been a well-established standard name for well over a century.
Popularity in the United States
100,836 babies in the United States have been named Karl since 1880. It ranks #314 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1304.
States where it is most popular
- NY (9.7 %)
- CA (8 %)
- PA (8 %)
- IL (6.4 %)
- OH (6.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 419 |
| 1890-1900 | 589 |
| 1900-1910 | 792 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,694 |
| 1920-1930 | 5,801 |
| 1930-1940 | 7,723 |
| 1940-1950 | 9,724 |
| 1950-1960 | 18,731 |
| 1960-1970 | 21,179 |
| 1970-1980 | 10,623 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,371 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,111 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,800 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,625 |
| 2020-2029 | 654 |
Famous people named Karl
- Karl Marx: Philosopher, Economist
- Karl Malone: Basketball Player, Athlete
- Karl Lagerfeld: Fashion Designer, Creative Director
Fun facts
- The name was borne by numerous European monarchs, including Charlemagne (Karl der Große) and several kings of Sweden and Austria.
- Karl is the original Germanic spelling of the name that eventually became Charles in French and English.