Karl

Last seen for girls in 1993 at #8,719 · #1,585 for boys in 2025, 107 births
Given to boys 99.1% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1960 · 2,594 births
Debut · boys
21 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
100,836
since 1880

Karl over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Karl has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201933peak #135, 1960boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1,585107
2024—#1,68599
2023—#1,681101
2022—#1,425128
2021—#1,529115
2020—#1,568104
2019—#1,283145
2018—#1,282143
2017—#1,287141
2016—#1,149167
2015—#1,075184
2014—#1,147165
2013—#1,096169
2012—#1,135161
2011—#1,078173
2010—#1,086177
2009—#966207
2008—#1,019188
2007—#859242
2006—#769270
2005—#752265
2004—#695281
2003—#658300
2002—#608330
2001—#580351
2000—#564366
1999—#534390
1998—#481455
1997—#459483
1996—#446504
1995—#391598
1994—#381612
1993#8,7199#357662
1992—#336738
1991#11,5096#317811
1990#11,4096#295858
1989#5,83614#273908
1988#3,89323#274843
1987#3,74323#260853
1986#3,13529#248904
1985#2,93931#242961
1984#3,42324#244896
1983#2,91029#242911
1982#3,17227#240973
1981#3,14727#2261,062
1980#3,41124#2251,060
1979#3,66821#234956
1978#3,38822#232900
1977#3,08325#230941
1976#2,86526#234868
1975#2,88125#226904
1974#2,75726#2141,004
1973#2,34932#220985
1972#2,68026#1991,167
1971#2,95523#1911,323
1970#2,93823#1771,575
1969#2,05837#1801,565
1968#2,70822#1681,598
1967#2,21229#1591,695
1966#2,83919#1581,792
1965#2,83319#1542,019
1964#3,00018#1352,403
1963#2,54323#1362,513
1962#2,66821#1422,457
1961#3,06017#1382,543
1960#2,72920#1352,594
1959#2,67819#1482,354
1958#3,23214#1462,348
1957#5,3776#1462,338
1956#3,18614#1502,060
1955#4,7407#1491,935
1954—#1661,736
1953—#1631,653
1952—#1701,564
1951#4,3857#1751,439
1950—#1721,304
1949—#1721,321
1948—#1791,187
1947#4,7646#1841,119
1946—#185998
1945—#196758
1944—#186837
1943#4,6915#182907
1942#4,6225#179878
1941—#177864
1940—#174855
1939—#171866
1938—#162985
1937—#162907
1936#4,1815#165830
1935—#171812
1934#3,8026#186689
1933#4,2185#181681
1932—#193670
1931#3,4977#204635
1930#3,6587#206648
1929#3,6827#207637
1928#3,4368#219599
1927#3,5618#211630
1926—#226595
1925#4,0287#225589
1924#5,0615#232584
1923—#235565
1922—#246527
1921—#233573
1920—#245502
1919#3,8177#234515
1918—#209600
1917—#180673
1916#3,2588#176685
1915#3,7956#160715
1914—#161548
1913—#177387
1912—#182323
1911—#194156
1910—#25292
1909—#207102
1908—#20997
1907—#21389
1906—#169108
1905—#24165
1904—#23067
1903—#21270
1902—#22365
1901—#23554
1900—#23075
1899—#23849
1898—#23953
1897—#23257
1896—#23460
1895—#21167
1894—#19973
1893—#21563
1892—#22859
1891—#20261
1890—#24647
1889—#22950
1888—#20671
1887—#22449
1886—#24848
1885—#24844
1884—#29634
1883—#28433
1882—#27240
1881—#29629
1880—#37321
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Karl was already there! It came in at #373, and was given to 21 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1881, when fewer than 30 boys a year got the name.

Where Karl is popular in 1933

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNHWashington: #150 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 969 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #155 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,133 boysMNIllinois: #172 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,498 boysILWisconsin: #111 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 619 boysWIMichigan: #132 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 962 boysMINew York: #121 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 971 boysNYMassachusetts: #125 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,388 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedSDIowa: #155 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 822 boysIAIndiana: #134 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 918 boysINOhio: #120 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 813 boysOHPennsylvania: #103 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 813 boysPANew Jersey: #104 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 908 boysNJConnecticut: #132 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,182 boysCTCalifornia: #167 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,097 boysCAUtah: #99 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 354 boysUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedCONebraska: #168 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,022 boysNEMissouri: #169 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,215 boysMOKentucky: #353 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,530 boysKYWest Virginia: #226 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,763 boysWVVirginia: #284 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,665 boysVAMaryland: #171 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,839 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedDEArizona: #165 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 713 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNMKansas: #142 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 778 boysKSArkansas: #371 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,456 boysARTennessee: #394 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,843 boysTNNorth Carolina: #486 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,579 boysNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #108 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 750 boysDCOklahoma: #314 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,125 boysOKLouisiana: #252 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,596 boysLAMississippi: #315 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,676 boysMSAlabama: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedHITexas: #540 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 5,355 boysTXFlorida: #276 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,197 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#99 · 1 in 354
  2. Pennsylvania#103 · 1 in 813
  3. New Jersey#104 · 1 in 908
  4. District of Columbia#108 · 1 in 750
  5. Wisconsin#111 · 1 in 619

Best ever in a state: #56 in Utah, 1941.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#99131 in 354
Pennsylvania#103851 in 813
New Jersey#104271 in 908
District of Columbia#10851 in 750
Wisconsin#111361 in 619
Ohio#120531 in 813
New York#121861 in 971
Massachusetts#125201 in 1,388
Connecticut#13281 in 1,182
Michigan#132371 in 962
Indiana#134241 in 918
Kansas#142171 in 778
Washington#15091 in 969
Iowa#155221 in 822
Minnesota#155171 in 1,133
Arizona#16551 in 713
California#167311 in 1,097
Nebraska#168101 in 1,022
Missouri#169221 in 1,215
Maryland#17161 in 1,839
Illinois#172331 in 1,498
West Virginia#22691 in 1,763
Louisiana#252111 in 1,596
Florida#27651 in 2,197
Virginia#28481 in 2,665
Oklahoma#31471 in 3,125
Mississippi#31571 in 2,676
Kentucky#35371 in 3,530
Arkansas#37151 in 3,456
Tennessee#39451 in 4,843
North Carolina#48651 in 6,579
Texas#540101 in 5,355
Alabama———
Alaska———
Colorado———
Delaware———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Karl
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 100 spots since 2024 (#1,685 → #1,585)
  • 17 spots since 2020 (#1,568 → #1,585)
  • 510 spots since 2015 (#1,075 → #1,585)
  • Biggest jump: 77 spots in 1881 (#373 → #296)
  • Biggest drop: 160 spots in 2008 (#859 → #1,019)
Rise & fade · boys
80 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1960 at #135 (2,594 births)
  • Births halved by 1972, 12 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 129 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 129 yrs · run 1880–2007
Share of babies · boys
1 in 808
  • Highest: 1 in 808 boys born in 1963 were named Karl (0.12%)
  • Latest: 1 in 15,963 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #135 in 1960, was only 1 in 822 (0.12%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1960s
  • 21.0% of all boys named Karl (21,179) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s419#206 (1888)#268
1890s589#199 (1894)#224
1900s792#169 (1906)#217
1910s4,694#160 (1915)#193
1920s5,801#207 (1929)#228
1930s7,723#162 (1938)#180
1940s9,724#172 (1949)#181
1950s18,731#146 (1958)#159
1960s21,179#135 (1960)#151
1970s10,623#177 (1970)#216
1980s9,371#225 (1980)#247
1990s6,111#295 (1990)#400
2000s2,800#564 (2000)#747
2010s1,625#1,075 (2015)#1,162
2020s654#1,425 (2022)#1,579

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Karl in 1933

girls
#4,218
5 births · 1 in 201,586 girls
boys
#181
681 births · 1 in 1,456 boys

Top girls' names in 1933

  1. #1Mary55,517
  2. #2Betty31,531
  3. #3Barbara26,949
  4. #4Dorothy22,054
  5. #5Joan19,294
  6. #6Patricia18,632
  7. #7Margaret15,241
  8. #8Helen14,644
  9. #9Shirley14,320
  10. #10Doris12,025
  11. #4,218Karl5

Top boys' names in 1933

  1. #1Robert54,221
  2. #2James51,112
  3. #3John46,224
  4. #4William39,049
  5. #5Richard31,331
  6. #6Charles28,991
  7. #7Donald28,450
  8. #8George18,356
  9. #9Joseph17,162
  10. #10Thomas16,508
  11. #181Karl681
More about 1933

girls

1,007,932 girls got a published name in 1933; 1 in 201,586 of them was named Karl, which outranked 13.2% of the 4,858 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #3,753Yvone6
  2. #3,753Zelia6
  3. #3,753Zenith6
  4. #4,218Karl5
  5. #4,218Adair5
  6. #4,218Adda5
  7. #4,218Adelyn5

Tied with 640 names at #4,218; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1932
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,022Rheta#1,754 → #732
  2. ↑ 930Joellen#1,877 → #947
  3. ↑ 583Veola#1,568 → #985
  4. ↑ 483Sharlene#1,162 → #679
  5. ↑ 475Louetta#1,448 → #973
Fallers
  1. ↓ 395Golda#969 → #1,364
  2. ↓ 322Louis#940 → #1,262
  3. ↓ 298Bebe#899 → #1,197
  4. ↓ 291Clyde#998 → #1,289
  5. ↓ 291Mariam#998 → #1,289

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

991,524 boys got a published name in 1933; 1 in 1,456 of them was named Karl, which outranked 95.6% of the 4,156 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #178Nathaniel728
  2. #178Steve728
  3. #180Mark693
  4. #181Karl681
  5. #182Marshall674
  6. #182Salvatore674
  7. #184Alton669
Biggest movers since 1932
Risers
  1. ↑ 553Neville#1,548 → #995
  2. ↑ 401Cordell#1,286 → #885
  3. ↑ 381Hamilton#1,286 → #905
  4. ↑ 375Delano#677 → #302
  5. ↑ 313Jan#937 → #624
Fallers
  1. ↓ 568Hoover#793 → #1,361
  2. ↓ 541Porfirio#915 → #1,456
  3. ↓ 424Rosendo#937 → #1,361
  4. ↓ 381Alfonzo#821 → #1,202
  5. ↓ 368Hillard#862 → #1,230

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1933 →