Karol Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAR-ol //ˈkɛr.əl//
Origin: Slavic; Latin
Meaning: Slavic: free man; Latin: strong
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karol has its roots in the Old Germanic name Karl, which means "free man." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, first appearing in Latin as Carolus. The name was adopted into Old French as Charles, which later influenced the English form Charles.
The transition into the feminine form Karol can be traced back to the 20th century, where it emerged as a variant of Caroline, itself derived from the Latin Carolina, a diminutive of Carolus. This linguistic journey illustrates the name's deep historical connections across different cultures and languages.
Historically, the name Charles has significant milestones, including its association with Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and Lombards in the late 8th and early 9th centuries, who was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD. The name has been borne by numerous kings and saints throughout history, including Charles I of England in the 17th century and various saints named Charles, such as Saint Charles Borromeo, a prominent figure in the Counter-Reformation during the 16th century.
The name's presence in the King James Bible, particularly in the context of biblical figures, has further solidified its historical significance. Culturally, the name Karol and its variants have been associated with notions of nobility and leadership, reflecting the qualities of freedom and strength inherent in its etymology.
The name has been embraced in various cultures, often symbolizing a connection to heritage and tradition. The diminutive form Carol is also noteworthy, as it has been used in various contexts, including literature and music, further enriching the name's cultural resonance.
Overall, Karol embodies a rich historical tapestry that spans centuries and cultures, reflecting enduring values and associations.
Famous people named Karol
In this section, you will find notable people named Karol. 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 Karol who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Karol 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.
Karol Wojtyła is a religious leader best known for being Pope John Paul II, his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, and his extensive travels around the world.
Karol G is a singer and songwriter best known for Tusa, Bichota, and Provenza.
Karol Szymanowski is a composer best known for his works Stabat Mater, King Roger, and Myths.
Fictional characters named Karol
The following list of fictional characters named Karol 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.
Karol is a fictional character from the video game series Tales of Vesperia. He is a young, spirited member of the party who serves as the group's scout and provides comic relief.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karol, 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 Karol. 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 Karol was first seen in the United States in 1918.
Karol has ranked as high as #1034 nationally, which occurred in 2005, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Karol has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Karol 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 Karol was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Karol (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 8 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| FL | 5 |
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 Karol.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2019 | 72 |
| 2018 | 44 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2014 | 77 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2012 | 132 |
| 2011 | 100 |
| 2010 | 78 |
| 2009 | 97 |
| 2008 | 87 |
| 2007 | 149 |
| 2006 | 137 |
| 2005 | 316 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2002 | 43 |
| 2001 | 39 |
| 2000 | 48 |
| 1999 | 45 |
| 1998 | 37 |
| 1997 | 30 |
| 1996 | 42 |
| 1995 | 32 |
| 1994 | 31 |
| 1993 | 32 |
| 1992 | 25 |
| 1991 | 35 |
| 1990 | 41 |
| 1989 | 27 |
| 1988 | 22 |
| 1987 | 25 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1985 | 15 |
| 1984 | 21 |
| 1983 | 32 |
| 1982 | 19 |
| 1981 | 22 |
| 1980 | 35 |
| 1979 | 30 |
| 1978 | 34 |
| 1977 | 27 |
| 1976 | 35 |
| 1975 | 34 |
| 1974 | 38 |
| 1973 | 54 |
| 1972 | 54 |
| 1971 | 83 |
| 1970 | 99 |
| 1969 | 110 |
| 1968 | 126 |
| 1967 | 139 |
| 1966 | 157 |
| 1965 | 181 |
| 1964 | 220 |
| 1963 | 190 |
| 1962 | 203 |
| 1961 | 225 |
| 1960 | 225 |
| 1959 | 253 |
| 1958 | 256 |
| 1957 | 251 |
| 1956 | 203 |
| 1955 | 214 |
| 1954 | 207 |
| 1953 | 190 |
| 1952 | 236 |
| 1951 | 205 |
| 1950 | 200 |
| 1949 | 184 |
| 1948 | 232 |
| 1947 | 250 |
| 1946 | 216 |
| 1945 | 211 |
| 1944 | 214 |
| 1943 | 184 |
| 1942 | 172 |
| 1941 | 151 |
| 1940 | 137 |
| 1939 | 112 |
| 1938 | 104 |
| 1937 | 86 |
| 1936 | 79 |
| 1935 | 49 |
| 1934 | 52 |
| 1933 | 38 |
| 1932 | 20 |
| 1931 | 13 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1929 | 11 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1927 | 9 |
| 1926 | 7 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1918 | 5 |