Karl
Karl was the 1593rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 107 babies. Its best year was 1960, when it ranked 135th with 2,594 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 518 places. More babies were named Karl in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Carl) German form of Charles, 'man' · German, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #1,593 boys, down 23 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 107boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19602,594 babies
- Total since 1880
- 101,751babies recorded
What does the name Karl mean?
Karl is a spelling of Carl, pronounced the same way, so it shares Carl's meaning and origin.
Carl is the German and Scandinavian form of Charles, from Germanic karl 'man, free man', as Wiktionary notes; it also reflects Latin Carolus. The same word gave Old English ceorl, a free peasant, and modern English churl. Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus) spread Carolus across Europe. Carl was common among German American families and became a popular American name in the early 20th century.
karl (Old High German, “man, free man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Karl, Charles, Carlos, Carlo, Carol.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Carl', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Charles', DMNES (Durham University)
Karl popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 915 since 1915.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,593 | 107 |
| 2020 | #1,570 | 104 |
| 2010 | #1,089 | 177 |
| 2000 | #564 | 366 |
| 1990 | #295 | 858 |
| 1980 | #225 | 1,060 |
| 1970 | #177 | 1,575 |
| 1960 | #135 | 2,594 |
| 1950 | #172 | 1,304 |
| 1940 | #174 | 855 |
| 1930 | #206 | 648 |
| 1920 | #245 | 502 |
| 1910 | #252 | 92 |
| 1900 | #231 | 75 |
| 1890 | #248 | 47 |
| 1880 | #377 | 21 |
How popular is Karl, counting every spelling?
Karl is a spelling of Carl, a name family that ranked #813 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,593 for Karl on its own. Together these spellings went to 294 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carl | 187 | #1,134 | 1,102 |
| Karl | 107 | #1,593 | 550 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Karl?
107 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Karl (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Karl born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 78 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Karl.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Karl?
About 64,000 people born in the US named Karl are alive today, with a median age of 59; half are between 43 and 68. That makes Karl a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Karl by state
How common Karl was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 35 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Karl: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Karl, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Karl
What does Karl mean?
Karl is a spelling of Carl, which means “German form of Charles, 'man'” (German, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Karl?
Karl was the 1593rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 107 babies. Its best year was 1960, when it ranked 135th with 2,594 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 518 places. More babies were named Karl in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Karl a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Karl in the US.
Where is Karl most popular?
In 2021–2025, Karl was most common in Florida (0.09 per 1,000 boys), followed by Indiana and New York.