Karl
BoyGermanic · English: US /ˈkɑɹl/, British /ˈkɑːl/.
Karl has a firm K, a spare shape and a long history in Germanic naming.
Origin
Germanic
Pronunciation
English: US /ˈkɑɹl/, British /ˈkɑːl/.
Usually traced to “man”.
Karl is usually traced to an old Germanic word for “man”. It belongs to the same name family as Charles, connected through the Latin form Carolus, and has a long history in German and Scandinavian use. Royal bearers add a formal association to a name whose basic meaning is much plainer. The K gives Karl a decisive visual opening. Its close-packed ending makes it feel sturdy and economical, particularly beside longer, flowing names. Carl is an established alternative spelling; choosing K can make the written name look more angular. Karl may suit a taste for traditional names with little ornament and a strong outline.
Etymology: Germanic name, related through Latin Carolus to Charles.
Spelling table
Code
-.- .- .-. .-..
Listen to the dots and dashes, or choose Slow to follow each letter.
Braille
⠠⠅⠁⠗⠇
Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Boys
Rank1,593
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
Germanic