Declining since 2006, #3,389 for girls today.
Popularity of Karol since 1911
Babies named Karol per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 94 |
| 1920s | 65 | 113 |
| 1930s | 569 | 124 |
| 1940s | 1,951 | 117 |
| 1950s | 2,215 | 80 |
| 1960s | 1,776 | 32 |
| 1970s | 488 | 18 |
| 1980s | 239 | 66 |
| 1990s | 350 | 131 |
| 2000s | 1,009 | 422 |
| 2010s | 714 | 213 |
| 2020s | 313 | 27 |
Meaning & origin
Karol is a name with a strong Slavic heritage, most famously associated with Pope John Paul II. In the United States, it has been in use since at least 1918, but its peak popularity came in 2005, when it ranked around 3389. Since 2006, its usage has been declining. The name is most commonly found in Texas and California. While its meaning as 'free man' is well established from the Germanic root via Charles, the feminine usage as a variant of Carol introduces a separate origin meaning 'song of joy'. This dual heritage gives Karol a rich, if sometimes debated, etymological background.
Karol is the Polish and Slovak form of Charles, ultimately from the Germanic *karlaz meaning 'free man'. The name gained prominence in Poland through the veneration of Saint Charles Borromeo and later through Pope John Paul II (born Karol Wojtyła). It has been consistently used in Poland and among Polish diaspora communities. As a feminine name, Karol is also a variant of Carol, from French Caroline, derived from the same Germanic root.
Where Karol is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Karol” around the world
Where Karol lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Karo, Karolek, Karlos
Sibling names for Karol
Names that share Karol's style, for a brother or sister.
