Boy
Karl
free man
About Karl
Strong, straightforward, and timelessly masculine, this name cuts through modern complexity with refreshing directness. Karl represents no-nonsense character and dependable strength, appealing to parents who value substance over style. The single syllable delivers immediate impact, making it memorable and easy to use in all contexts. This name carries international recognition, working seamlessly across multiple languages and cultures while maintaining its essential character. Karl suggests someone practical and reliable, someone who can be counted on when situations become challenging. The hard consonants create a masculine sound that conveys determination and resilience. Despite its simplicity, the name possesses depth and history that prevent it from feeling lightweight or insubstantial. Karl works beautifully as both a first name and in combination with longer middle names, providing flexibility for various naming preferences. For families seeking a name that's honest, strong, and unpretentious, Karl offers exactly that—a solid foundation for identity without unnecessary embellishment or complication.
Popularity of the Name Karl
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #377 | ||||
| 1881 | #299 | ||||
| 1882 | #272 | ||||
| 1883 | #287 | ||||
| 1884 | #298 | ||||
| 1885 | #249 | ||||
| 1886 | #249 | ||||
| 1887 | #224 | ||||
| 1888 | #207 | ||||
| 1889 | #229 | ||||
| 1890 | #248 | ||||
| 1891 | #203 | ||||
| 1892 | #231 | ||||
| 1893 | #216 | ||||
| 1894 | #201 | ||||
| 1895 | #211 | ||||
| 1896 | #234 | ||||
| 1897 | #233 | ||||
| 1898 | #241 | ||||
| 1899 | #239 | ||||
| 1900 | #231 | ||||
| 1901 | #235 | ||||
| 1902 | #223 | ||||
| 1903 | #213 | ||||
| 1904 | #230 | ||||
| 1905 | #243 | ||||
| 1906 | #169 | ||||
| 1907 | #214 | ||||
| 1908 | #210 | ||||
| 1909 | #211 | ||||
| 1910 | #252 | #126 | |||
| 1911 | #195 | ||||
| 1912 | #182 | ||||
| 1913 | #177 | ||||
| 1914 | #161 | ||||
| 1915 | #160 | ||||
| 1916 | #176 | ||||
| 1917 | #181 | ||||
| 1918 | #209 | ||||
| 1919 | #234 | ||||
| 1920 | #245 | ||||
| 1921 | #233 | ||||
| 1922 | #246 | ||||
| 1923 | #235 | ||||
| 1924 | #233 | ||||
| 1925 | #225 | ||||
| 1926 | #226 | ||||
| 1927 | #211 | ||||
| 1928 | #219 | ||||
| 1929 | #207 | ||||
| 1930 | #206 | ||||
| 1931 | #204 | ||||
| 1932 | #193 | ||||
| 1933 | #181 | ||||
| 1934 | #186 | ||||
| 1935 | #171 | ||||
| 1936 | #166 | ||||
| 1937 | #162 | ||||
| 1938 | #162 | ||||
| 1939 | #171 | ||||
| 1940 | #174 | ||||
| 1941 | #178 | ||||
| 1942 | #179 | ||||
| 1943 | #182 | ||||
| 1944 | #186 | ||||
| 1945 | #197 | ||||
| 1946 | #185 | ||||
| 1947 | #184 | ||||
| 1948 | #179 | ||||
| 1949 | #172 | ||||
| 1950 | #172 | #166 | |||
| 1951 | #175 | #166 | |||
| 1952 | #170 | ||||
| 1953 | #163 | #163 | |||
| 1954 | #166 | #169 | |||
| 1955 | #149 | #143 | |||
| 1956 | #150 | #167 | |||
| 1957 | #146 | #133 | |||
| 1958 | #146 | #116 | |||
| 1959 | #148 | #121 | |||
| 1960 | #135 | #125 | |||
| 1961 | #138 | #115 | |||
| 1962 | #142 | #97 | |||
| 1963 | #136 | #96 | |||
| 1964 | #135 | #96 | #86 | ||
| 1965 | #154 | #92 | #88 | ||
| 1966 | #158 | #84 | #89 | ||
| 1967 | #159 | #75 | #91 | ||
| 1968 | #168 | #73 | #80 | ||
| 1969 | #180 | #47 | #80 | ||
| 1970 | #177 | #44 | #69 | ||
| 1971 | #191 | #47 | #68 | ||
| 1972 | #199 | #41 | #66 | ||
| 1973 | #220 | #33 | #66 | ||
| 1974 | #214 | #44 | #67 | ||
| 1975 | #226 | #35 | #78 | ||
| 1976 | #234 | #37 | #78 | ||
| 1977 | #230 | #35 | #81 | ||
| 1978 | #232 | #43 | #66 | ||
| 1979 | #234 | #45 | #58 | ||
| 1980 | #225 | #43 | #56 | ||
| 1981 | #226 | #46 | #70 | ||
| 1982 | #240 | #47 | #69 | ||
| 1983 | #242 | #49 | #71 | ||
| 1984 | #244 | #42 | #68 | ||
| 1985 | #242 | #46 | #65 | ||
| 1986 | #248 | #48 | #63 | ||
| 1987 | #260 | #55 | #64 | ||
| 1988 | #274 | #49 | #60 | ||
| 1989 | #273 | #56 | #47 | ||
| 1990 | #295 | #75 | #59 | ||
| 1991 | #317 | #71 | #57 | #144 | |
| 1992 | #336 | #88 | #63 | #137 | |
| 1993 | #357 | #87 | #56 | #143 | |
| 1994 | #382 | #96 | #71 | #138 | |
| 1995 | #392 | #117 | #67 | #178 | |
| 1996 | #447 | #126 | #68 | #183 | |
| 1997 | #459 | #129 | #131 | #69 | #210 |
| 1998 | #482 | #150 | #158 | #69 | #214 |
| 1999 | #534 | #162 | #174 | #71 | #228 |
| 2000 | #564 | #194 | #217 | #95 | #267 |
| 2001 | #580 | #225 | #238 | #78 | #312 |
| 2002 | #609 | #280 | #283 | #115 | #283 |
| 2003 | #660 | #259 | #99 | #377 | |
| 2004 | #695 | #305 | #275 | #100 | #432 |
| 2005 | #752 | #287 | #93 | #501 | |
| 2006 | #771 | #402 | #129 | #465 | |
| 2007 | #860 | #431 | #293 | #137 | #647 |
| 2009 | #967 | #552 | #191 | #438 | |
| 2008 | #584 | #427 | #177 | #629 | |
| 2010 | #573 | #224 | #525 | ||
| 2011 | #638 | #266 | #583 | ||
| 2012 | #745 | #248 | #574 | ||
| 2014 | #756 | #320 | #672 | ||
| 2017 | #981 | #363 | #877 | ||
| 2013 | #302 | #513 | |||
| 2015 | #322 | #606 | |||
| 2016 | #430 | #550 | |||
| 2019 | #581 | #618 | |||
| 2020 | #802 | #913 | |||
| 2022 | #831 | #910 | |||
| 2023 | #526 | ||||
| 2024 | #682 | ||||
| 2025 | #897 | ||||
| 2018 | #690 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Karl
Names Similar to Karl
Nicknames for Karl
- Kar
- K
- Karly
- Carlos
Famous People Named Karl
| Karl Marx | German philosopher and economist |
| Karl Lagerfeld | German fashion designer |
| Karl Popper | Austrian-British philosopher |
| Karl Benz | German automotive engineer, inventor of the first practical automobile |
| Karl Malone | American basketball player |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | American basketball player |
| Karl Anderson | American professional wrestler |
| Karl Urban | New Zealand actor |
| Karl Meltzer | American ultramarathon runner |
| Karl Pilkington | English television presenter and comedian |
| Karl Rove | American political consultant and strategist |
| Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg | German politician |
| Karl Anthony Simon | American surgeon and astronaut |
| Karl Alzner | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Karl May | German author, known for his adventure novels |
| Karl Stefanovic | Australian television presenter |
| Karl Wolf | Lebanese-Canadian musician |
| Karl Weierstrass | German mathematician |
| Karl Lehmann | German cardinal and theologian |
| Karl Landsteiner | Austrian immunologist, Nobel laureate for his discovery of blood groups |
Characters Named Karl
| Karl Kennedy | Character from the Australian soap opera "Neighbours" |
| Karl Heisenberg | Character from the video game "Resident Evil Village" |
| Karl Stromberg | Villain character from the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" |
| Karl Hoffmeister | Character from the movie "Casablanca" |
| Karl Ruprecht Kroenen | Character from the comic book series "Hellboy" |
| Karl-Heinz Schneider | Character from the anime and manga series "Captain Tsubasa" |
| Karl Robinson | Character from the TV series "Lost" |
| Karl Childers | Character from the movie "Sling Blade" |
| Karl Weathers | Character from the TV series "Arrested Development" |
| Karl Fink | Character from the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" |
| Karl Smith | Character from the TV series "The X-Files" |
| Karl Farbman | Character from the movie "Doctor Sleep" |
| Karl Rossum | Character from the TV series "The Bionic Woman" |
| Karl Mayer | Character from the TV series "Devious Maids" |
| Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | Character from the video game "Captain Tsubasa - Rise of New Champions" |
| Karl Oskar | Character from the novel "The Emigrants" by Vilhelm Moberg |
| Karl Strom | Character from the movie "The World Is Not Enough" |
| Karl Schäfer | Character from the TV series "The Americans" |
| Karl "Helo" Agathon | Character from the TV series "Battlestar Galactica" |