Karl Boy
Origin(s)
Pronunciationkarl / /kɑːrl/German; Scandinavian; Dutch
Meaning
German: free man; Scandinavian: strong; Dutch: man
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karl has roots in the Germanic word 'karal', meaning 'man' or 'free man'. It has been a popular name in various European cultures, particularly in Germany and Scandinavia. Historically, it has been borne by numerous kings and emperors, including Charlemagne, known as Karl der Große in German. The name has also been used in various forms across different languages and cultures.
Trend Summary
The name Karl has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable decline in recent decades.
Similar Names
Variants
- Carl
- Karel
- Karol
International Variants
- Carlo (Italian)
- Charles (English)
- Carlos (Spanish)
- Karlis (Latvian)
Famous people named Karl
Karl Marx was a philosopher and economist known for his theories on socialism and communism.
Karl Lagerfeld was a renowned fashion designer and creative director of Chanel.
Karl Landsteiner was an Austrian immunologist who discovered the ABO blood group system.
Karl Urban is a New Zealand actor known for his roles in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Trek'.
Fictional characters named Karl
Karl is a character in the video game 'The Last of Us Part II', serving as a minor antagonist.
Karl the Giant is a character in the animated film 'The Little Prince', representing a unique perspective on life.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Karl was first seen in the United States in 1880. Karl has ranked as high as #293 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Karl has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Karl (2024)
State | Births | Share |
---|---|---|
CA | 12 | |
FL | 8 | |
TX | 8 | |
NY | 7 | |
MO | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
Year | Births |
---|---|
1880 | 21 |
1881 | 29 |
1882 | 40 |
1883 | 33 |
1884 | 34 |
1885 | 44 |
1886 | 48 |
1887 | 49 |
1888 | 71 |
1889 | 50 |
1890 | 47 |
1891 | 61 |
1892 | 59 |
1893 | 63 |
1894 | 73 |
1895 | 67 |
1896 | 60 |
1897 | 57 |
1898 | 53 |
1899 | 49 |
1900 | 75 |
1901 | 54 |
1902 | 65 |
1903 | 70 |
1904 | 67 |
1905 | 65 |
1906 | 108 |
1907 | 89 |
1908 | 97 |
1909 | 102 |
1910 | 92 |
1911 | 156 |
1912 | 323 |
1913 | 387 |
1914 | 548 |
1915 | 715 |
1916 | 685 |
1917 | 673 |
1918 | 600 |
1919 | 515 |
1920 | 502 |
1921 | 573 |
1922 | 527 |
1923 | 565 |
1924 | 584 |
1925 | 589 |
1926 | 595 |
1927 | 630 |
1928 | 599 |
1929 | 637 |
1930 | 648 |
1931 | 635 |
1932 | 670 |
1933 | 681 |
1934 | 689 |
1935 | 812 |
1936 | 830 |
1937 | 907 |
1938 | 985 |
1939 | 866 |
1940 | 855 |
1941 | 864 |
1942 | 878 |
1943 | 907 |
1944 | 837 |
1945 | 758 |
1946 | 998 |
1947 | 1,119 |
1948 | 1,187 |
1949 | 1,321 |
1950 | 1,304 |
1951 | 1,439 |
1952 | 1,564 |
1953 | 1,653 |
1954 | 1,736 |
1955 | 1,936 |
1956 | 2,058 |
1957 | 2,338 |
1958 | 2,348 |
1959 | 2,355 |
1960 | 2,594 |
1961 | 2,545 |
1962 | 2,456 |
1963 | 2,513 |
1964 | 2,402 |
1965 | 2,021 |
1966 | 1,792 |
1967 | 1,695 |
1968 | 1,599 |
1969 | 1,566 |
1970 | 1,576 |
1971 | 1,323 |
1972 | 1,167 |
1973 | 986 |
1974 | 1,004 |
1975 | 904 |
1976 | 868 |
1977 | 941 |
1978 | 900 |
1979 | 959 |
1980 | 1,059 |
1981 | 1,062 |
1982 | 974 |
1983 | 912 |
1984 | 895 |
1985 | 961 |
1986 | 903 |
1987 | 853 |
1988 | 843 |
1989 | 908 |
1990 | 858 |
1991 | 811 |
1992 | 738 |
1993 | 662 |
1994 | 612 |
1995 | 598 |
1996 | 504 |
1997 | 483 |
1998 | 455 |
1999 | 389 |
2000 | 366 |
2001 | 351 |
2002 | 330 |
2003 | 299 |
2004 | 281 |
2005 | 265 |
2006 | 270 |
2007 | 242 |
2008 | 188 |
2009 | 207 |
2010 | 177 |
2011 | 172 |
2012 | 161 |
2013 | 169 |
2014 | 165 |
2015 | 184 |
2016 | 167 |
2017 | 141 |
2018 | 143 |
2019 | 144 |
2020 | 104 |
2021 | 115 |
2022 | 128 |
2023 | 101 |
2024 | 99 |