Declining since 1985, #1,585 for boys today.
Popularity of Karl since 1880
Babies named Karl per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 419 |
| 1890s | 589 |
| 1900s | 792 |
| 1910s | 4,694 |
| 1920s | 5,801 |
| 1930s | 7,723 |
| 1940s | 9,724 |
| 1950s | 18,731 |
| 1960s | 21,179 |
| 1970s | 10,623 |
| 1980s | 9,371 |
| 1990s | 6,111 |
| 2000s | 2,800 |
| 2010s | 1,625 |
| 2020s | 654 |
Meaning & origin
Karl has seen a long decline in U.S. usage since its peak year of 1963, when the name was far more common. In 2025, Karl ranked 1585th nationally, with roughly 1 in every 15,963 newborn boys receiving the name. The name has been falling steadily since 1985, reflecting a broader shift away from classic short forms. Geographically, Karl has been most popular in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Despite the decline, Karl remains a staple in German and Scandinavian communities, and its simplicity and strong sound continue to appeal to those seeking a traditional European name.
Karl is the German and Scandinavian form of Charles, derived from the Germanic *karlaz meaning 'free man' (as opposed to a noble). The name was borne by Charlemagne (Charles the Great), whose original given name was Karl. In Scandinavia, Karl has been a royal name in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark for centuries.
Where Karl is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Karl” around the world
Where Karl lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
70
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Charlie
Variants: Carl
Sibling names for Karl
Names that share Karl's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Ingrid, Greta, Elsa, Astrid, Marta, Berta, Erna, Freida, Frieda, Hilma, Hulda, Meta, Sonja, Elisabet, Hertha, Katharina, Liesl, Oda, Rebecka, Theresia, Conny, Else, Katha, Kathe, Litzi, Luise, Marlis, Ottilia, Ricarda, Tekla, Adelheid, Fritzi, Grettel, Gustava, Karlina, Marga, Rheda, Teckla, Wilhelmena, Wilhelmine, Aneliese, Elfriede, Elga, Fredrika, Helma, Karlen, Karlisa, Margarete
Brothers: Erik, Otto, Lars, Anders, Hans, Bernhard, Eduard, Eric, Fritz, Gust, Josef, Rudolph, Adolf, Alois, Franz, Klaus, Ludwig, Nils, Reinhold, Theodor, Werner, Aloys, Auguste, Dieter, Edvin, Fredrich, Georg, Gerhardt, Gustaf, Heinrich, Heinz, Hermann, Herold, Joh, Zigmund, Ebert, Friedrich, Henrick, Ignatz, Willi
Names like Karl
Names whose popularity has moved with Karl's over the last 50 years.
