Karol
Karol was the 3426th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 45 babies. Its best year was 1944, when it ranked 493rd; the most babies were born in 2005 (316). Over the last ten years it has moved down 726 places. More babies were named Karol in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Carol) short form of Caroline; also male Carolus · English, Germanic, Latin
- Rank in 2025
- #3,426 girls, down 480 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 45girls
- Girls and boys
- 94% girls, 6% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2005316 babies
- Total since 1880
- 11,131babies recorded
What does the name Karol mean?
Karol is a spelling of Carol, pronounced the same way, so it shares Carol's meaning and origin.
As a girls' name Carol is a short form of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, and Wiktionary notes it was associated by folk etymology with the English word carol, a Christmas song. As a boys' name it comes from Latin Carolus (Charles), also used in Romania and Poland. Charles comes from a Germanic word for 'man, free man' (compare Old English ceorl). Carol was very popular for American girls in the 1930s and 1940s.
Carolus (Latin, “Charles”)*karlaz (Proto-Germanic, “man, free man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Other explanations you may read: From the Christmas carol.
Related names: Caroline, Carole, Carroll, Charles, Karol.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Carol', 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)
Karol popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,426 | — | 45 | — |
| 2020 | #2,946 | #7,259 | 55 | 11 |
| 2010 | #2,416 | #3,587 | 78 | 30 |
| 2000 | #2,962 | #5,745 | 48 | 12 |
| 1990 | #2,824 | #3,874 | 41 | 15 |
| 1980 | #2,671 | #6,761 | 35 | 5 |
| 1970 | #1,174 | — | 99 | — |
| 1960 | #679 | — | 224 | — |
| 1950 | #597 | #3,183 | 200 | 7 |
| 1940 | #593 | #2,038 | 137 | 13 |
| 1930 | #2,155 | #1,783 | 16 | 18 |
| 1920 | — | #2,394 | — | 13 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Karol, counting every spelling?
Karol is a spelling of Carol, a name family that ranked #1,431 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #3,426 for Karol on its own. Together these spellings went to 136 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carol | 82 | #2,242 | 391 |
| Karol | 45 | #3,426 | 258 |
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 Karol?
45 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Karol (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Karol 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 186 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Karol.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Karol?
About 7,600 people born in the US named Karol are alive today, with a median age of 62; half are between 24 and 72. That makes Karol a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Karol by state
How common Karol was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (2.4×). In 48 states fewer than five girls 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 Karol: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Karol, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Karol
What does Karol mean?
Karol is a spelling of Carol, which means “short form of Caroline; also male Carolus” (English, Germanic, Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Karol?
Karol was the 3426th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 45 babies. Its best year was 1944, when it ranked 493rd; the most babies were born in 2005 (316). Over the last ten years it has moved down 726 places. More babies were named Karol in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Karol a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 94% girls, 6% boys given the name Karol in the US.
Where is Karol most popular?
In 2021–2025, Karol was most common in Texas (0.08 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Florida.