Karlos
Karlos was the 4795th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1974, when it ranked 1280th; the most babies were born in 2005 (50). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,464 places. More babies were named Karlos in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Carlos) man, free man (Spanish form of Charles) · Spanish, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #4,795 boys, down 1,262 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 21boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 200550 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,018babies recorded
What does the name Karlos mean?
Karlos is a spelling of Carlos, pronounced the same way, so it shares Carlos's meaning and origin.
Carlos is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Charles. DMNES traces Charles to the Germanic word karl, 'man', related to Old English ceorl, 'free man', and credits Charlemagne (Charles the Great) with spreading the name. Wikipedia lists many kings of Spain and Portugal named Carlos. Karl, Carlo and Carl are its German, Italian and Scandinavian relatives, and Wiktionary calls Carlos, Carl, Charles and Karl doublets of one another. Carla and Carlota are feminine forms.
karl (Old High German, “man”)ċeorl (Old English, “free man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Charles, Carl, Karl, Carlo, Carla, Carlitos.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Carlos', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Charles', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Carlos (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Karlos popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,795 | 21 |
| 2020 | #3,533 | 31 |
| 2010 | #2,894 | 41 |
| 2000 | #2,600 | 36 |
| 1990 | #1,996 | 38 |
| 1980 | #1,557 | 39 |
| 1970 | #1,822 | 24 |
| 1960 | #2,776 | 10 |
| 1950 | #3,507 | 6 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Karlos, counting every spelling?
Karlos is a spelling of Carlos, a name family that ranked #163 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #4,795 for Karlos on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,439 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos | 2,418 | #150 | 12,701 |
| Karlos | 21 | #4,795 | 145 |
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 Karlos?
21 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Karlos (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Karlos 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 401 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Karlos.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Karlos?
About 1,900 people born in the US named Karlos are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 15 and 44. That makes Karlos mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Karlos by state
How common Karlos was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in California (2.1×). In 49 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 Karlos: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Karlos, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Karlos
What does Karlos mean?
Karlos is a spelling of Carlos, which means “man, free man (Spanish form of Charles)” (Spanish, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Karlos?
Karlos was the 4795th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1974, when it ranked 1280th; the most babies were born in 2005 (50). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,464 places. More babies were named Karlos in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Karlos a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Karlos in the US.
Where is Karlos most popular?
In 2021–2025, Karlos was most common in California (0.04 per 1,000 boys), followed by Texas and Texas.