Karel Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAH-rel //ˈkɑːr.ɛl//
Origin: Czech; Dutch
Meaning: Czech: 'free man'; Dutch: 'manly'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karel has its roots in the Germanic name Karl, which is derived from the Old High German "karal," meaning "man" or "free man." This name evolved through various forms, including the Latin "Carolus," which was used in medieval Latin texts. The name made its way into different languages, including French as "Charles" and eventually into English as "Charles." The transition into Karel can be traced back to Slavic languages, where it is often used as a feminine form, particularly in Czech and Slovak contexts.
Historically, the name Karel is associated with several notable figures, including Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, who ruled in the late 8th and early 9th centuries and was a pivotal figure in the Carolingian Renaissance. His reign marked significant developments in European history, and his name became synonymous with leadership and nobility.
The name Karel also appears in various forms in different cultures, reflecting the widespread influence of the name across Europe. In the 14th century, Karel IV, a Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, further solidified the name's historical significance in Central Europe.
Culturally, the name Karel carries connotations of strength and freedom, reflecting its etymological roots. In Slavic cultures, it is often associated with nobility and leadership, echoing the legacy of historical figures who bore the name.
The diminutive form "Káťa" or "Károly" in some regions illustrates the affectionate and familial connections that names often foster. Overall, Karel embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, making it a name steeped in history.
Famous people named Karel
In this section, you will find notable people named Karel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Karel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Karel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Karel Čapek is a writer best known for R.U.R., War with the Newts, and The Absolute at Large.
Karel Gott was a singer best known for his music career in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, with hits like Lady Carneval and Biene Maja.
Karel Ancerl was a conductor best known for his work with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and recordings of Dvořák and Smetana.
Fictional characters named Karel
The following list of fictional characters named Karel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Karel is a fictional character from the novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being. He is a significant figure in the story, representing the complexities of love and existentialism through his relationships with other characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Karel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Karel was first seen in the United States in 1916.
Karel has ranked as high as #1427 nationally, which occurred in 1939, and has been most popular in California, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Karel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Karel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Karel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Karel.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2010 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 17 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2006 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2005 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
| 2003 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2001 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 2000 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1999 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| 1998 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 1997 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1996 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1995 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 1994 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1993 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1992 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 1991 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1990 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1988 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1986 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1985 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| 1984 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1983 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 1982 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1981 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1980 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1978 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1977 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1974 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1972 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 1971 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1970 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 1969 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| 1968 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1967 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1966 | 21 | 6 | 15 |
| 1965 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1964 | 26 | 7 | 19 |
| 1963 | 31 | 5 | 26 |
| 1962 | 30 | 7 | 23 |
| 1961 | 37 | 5 | 32 |
| 1960 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1959 | 41 | 6 | 35 |
| 1958 | 37 | 6 | 31 |
| 1957 | 32 | 7 | 25 |
| 1956 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1955 | 30 | 7 | 23 |
| 1954 | 45 | 6 | 39 |
| 1953 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1952 | 41 | 6 | 35 |
| 1951 | 43 | 8 | 35 |
| 1950 | 41 | 5 | 36 |
| 1949 | 44 | 9 | 35 |
| 1948 | 37 | 5 | 32 |
| 1947 | 57 | 6 | 51 |
| 1946 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1945 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1944 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1943 | 36 | 6 | 30 |
| 1942 | 39 | 8 | 31 |
| 1941 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1940 | 55 | 5 | 50 |
| 1939 | 76 | 7 | 69 |
| 1938 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1937 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1936 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 1935 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1934 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1933 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1932 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1930 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1920 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1916 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Top States for Karel (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 6 |