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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201977peak #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 1977

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedAKMaine: #128 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 876 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #122 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 914 boysNHWashington: #160 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,125 boysWAIdaho: #118 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 609 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #108 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 594 boysNDMinnesota: #118 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 899 boysMNIllinois: #181 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 1,197 boysILWisconsin: #139 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,148 boysWIMichigan: #149 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 1,109 boysMINew York: #239 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 1,748 boysNYMassachusetts: #162 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,572 boysMARhode Island: #110 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 752 boysRIOregon: #258 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,498 boysORNevada: #137 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 757 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedSDIowa: #177 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,624 boysIAIndiana: #202 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,839 boysINOhio: #192 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,722 boysOHPennsylvania: #167 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 1,400 boysPANew Jersey: #149 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 969 boysNJConnecticut: #156 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,142 boysCTCalifornia: #303 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 2,330 boysCAUtah: #148 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 975 boysUTColorado: #176 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,090 boysCONebraska: #150 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,141 boysNEMissouri: #194 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,528 boysMOKentucky: #335 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 4,028 boysKYWest Virginia: #258 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,853 boysWVVirginia: #193 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,356 boysVAMaryland: #163 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 984 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedDEArizona: #292 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,066 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNMKansas: #152 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 976 boysKSArkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedARTennessee: #304 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,902 boysTNNorth Carolina: #360 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,500 boysNCSouth Carolina: #399 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,447 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #175 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 878 boysDCOklahoma: #241 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,805 boysOKLouisiana: #276 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,737 boysLAMississippi: #300 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,131 boysMSAlabama: #306 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,436 boysALGeorgia: #368 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,441 boysGAHawaii: #221 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,057 boysHITexas: #382 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 3,031 boysTXFlorida: #299 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 2,274 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. North Dakota#108 · 1 in 594
  2. Rhode Island#110 · 1 in 752
  3. Idaho#118 · 1 in 609
  4. Minnesota#118 · 1 in 899
  5. New Hampshire#122 · 1 in 914

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#10891 in 594
Rhode Island#11071 in 752
Idaho#118131 in 609
Minnesota#118321 in 899
New Hampshire#12261 in 914
Maine#12881 in 876
Nevada#13751 in 757
Wisconsin#139281 in 1,148
Utah#148181 in 975
Michigan#149581 in 1,109
New Jersey#149431 in 969
Nebraska#150101 in 1,141
Kansas#152161 in 976
Connecticut#156141 in 1,142
Washington#160231 in 1,125
Massachusetts#162211 in 1,572
Maryland#163221 in 984
Pennsylvania#167531 in 1,400
District of Columbia#17591 in 878
Colorado#176181 in 1,090
Iowa#177131 in 1,624
Illinois#181681 in 1,197
Ohio#192451 in 1,722
Virginia#193241 in 1,356
Missouri#194231 in 1,528
Indiana#202221 in 1,839
Hawaii#22161 in 1,057
New York#239651 in 1,748
Oklahoma#241111 in 1,805
Oregon#25871 in 2,498
West Virginia#25851 in 2,853
Louisiana#276191 in 1,737
Arizona#29291 in 2,066
Florida#299221 in 2,274
Mississippi#30091 in 2,131
California#303711 in 2,330
Tennessee#304111 in 2,902
Alabama#306111 in 2,436
Kentucky#33571 in 4,028
North Carolina#360111 in 3,500
Georgia#368111 in 3,441
Texas#382371 in 3,031
South Carolina#39961 in 3,447
Alaska
Arkansas
Delaware
Montana
New Mexico
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 1977

girls
#3,083
25 births · 1 in 61,326 girls
boys
#230
941 births · 1 in 1,746 boys

Top girls' names in 1977

  1. #1Jennifer58,964
  2. #2Melissa26,879
  3. #3Amy26,729
  4. #4Jessica24,846
  5. #5Heather23,773
  6. #6Angela20,998
  7. #7Michelle19,540
  8. #8Kimberly18,286
  9. #9Amanda18,278
  10. #10Kelly18,234
  11. #3,083Karl25

Top boys' names in 1977

  1. #1Michael67,587
  2. #2Jason55,631
  3. #3Christopher46,721
  4. #4David40,515
  5. #5James40,040
  6. #6Robert34,214
  7. #7John34,195
  8. #8Brian32,492
  9. #9Matthew31,965
  10. #10Joseph26,483
  11. #230Karl941
More about 1977

girls

1,533,146 girls got a published name in 1977; 1 in 61,326 of them was named Karl, which outranked 72.8% of the 11,329 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #3,002Youlanda26
  2. #3,002Zelda26
  3. #3,002Zoraida26
  4. #3,083Karl25
  5. #3,083Adelia25
  6. #3,083Aimie25
  7. #3,083Alethia25
  8. #3,176Adrea24
  9. #3,176Aleasha24
  10. #3,176Allen24

Tied with 92 names at #3,083; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. 1,746Shawnte#2,486#740
  2. 1,077Jacklyn#2,060#983
  3. 775Talia#1,482#707
  4. 605Haley#1,047#442
  5. 576Raven#1,154#578
Fallers
  1. 1,033Liberty#543#1,576
  2. 464Luciana#545#1,009
  3. 441Danyel#999#1,440
  4. 428Chaka#897#1,325
  5. 322Catina#861#1,183

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

boys

1,643,220 boys got a published name in 1977; 1 in 1,746 of them was named Karl, which outranked 96.6% of the 6,861 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #227Harry949
  2. #228Alfred948
  3. #228Leon948
  4. #230Karl941
  5. #231Jessie933
  6. #232Johnathan929
  7. #233Armando916
Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. 5,102Lavar#5,587#485
  2. 4,753Kinte#5,587#834
  3. 969Jedidiah#1,873#904
  4. 811Conor#1,748#937
  5. 704Amin#1,608#904
Fallers
  1. 427Jerimy#963#1,390
  2. 322Demetrios#990#1,312
  3. 246Nakia#790#1,036
  4. 244Baron#977#1,221
  5. 235Hakim#878#1,113

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

See the top 100 for 1977