Karol
Karol is a girl's name of Slavic origin.
Meaning
Free person or strong.
Origin and history
Karol is a variation of Charles, originating from Germanic roots and widely used in Slavic languages like Polish. In the United States, it gained steady use both as a variant of Carol and as a traditional Polish masculine name adapted for females. It remains a recognizable, classic choice with a steady presence in U.S. records.
Popularity in the United States
9,694 babies in the United States have been named Karol since 1880. It ranks #1680 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1788.
States where it is most popular
- CA (17.9 %)
- TX (13.1 %)
- MI (8.5 %)
- IL (7.9 %)
- NY (7.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 65 |
| 1930-1940 | 569 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,951 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,215 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,776 |
| 1970-1980 | 488 |
| 1980-1990 | 239 |
| 1990-2000 | 350 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,009 |
| 2010-2019 | 714 |
| 2020-2029 | 313 |
Nicknames
Carrie, Kari
Fun facts
- Karol is the Polish and Slavic equivalent of the Germanic name Karl or Charles.
- Pope John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland.