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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201982peak #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 1982

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #166 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 898 boysAKMaine: 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: #117 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 753 boysWAIdaho: #197 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,365 boysIDMontana: #135 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 661 boysMTNorth Dakota: #156 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,209 boysNDMinnesota: #104 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 697 boysMNIllinois: #231 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 1,677 boysILWisconsin: #139 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,195 boysWIMichigan: #147 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 1,100 boysMINew York: #223 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 1,611 boysNYMassachusetts: #166 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,648 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedRIOregon: #184 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,469 boysORNevada: 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: #196 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,933 boysIAIndiana: #215 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 2,202 boysINOhio: #186 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 1,718 boysOHPennsylvania: #157 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 1,346 boysPANew Jersey: #201 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,517 boysNJConnecticut: #174 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,390 boysCTCalifornia: #308 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 2,468 boysCAUtah: #200 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,477 boysUTColorado: #239 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,094 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNEMissouri: #191 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,598 boysMOKentucky: #317 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,827 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedWVVirginia: #210 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,469 boysVAMaryland: #162 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,024 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedDEArizona: #248 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,687 boysAZNew Mexico: #334 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,315 boysNMKansas: #203 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,626 boysKSArkansas: #336 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,073 boysARTennessee: #335 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,623 boysTNNorth Carolina: #315 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,960 boysNCSouth Carolina: #283 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,102 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #183 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 968 boysDCOklahoma: #252 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,153 boysOKLouisiana: #291 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,889 boysLAMississippi: #277 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,925 boysMSAlabama: #381 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,722 boysALGeorgia: #428 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 4,506 boysGAHawaii: #272 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,395 boysHITexas: #318 for boys · 63 births · 1 in 2,288 boysTXFlorida: #285 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 2,064 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Minnesota#104 · 1 in 697
  2. Washington#117 · 1 in 753
  3. Montana#135 · 1 in 661
  4. Wisconsin#139 · 1 in 1,195
  5. Michigan#147 · 1 in 1,100

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Minnesota#104471 in 697
Washington#117421 in 753
Montana#13591 in 661
Wisconsin#139291 in 1,195
Michigan#147591 in 1,100
North Dakota#15651 in 1,209
Pennsylvania#157581 in 1,346
Maryland#162251 in 1,024
Alaska#16651 in 898
Massachusetts#166221 in 1,648
Connecticut#174131 in 1,390
District of Columbia#18381 in 968
Oregon#184131 in 1,469
Ohio#186461 in 1,718
Missouri#191231 in 1,598
Iowa#196111 in 1,933
Idaho#19761 in 1,365
Utah#200131 in 1,477
New Jersey#201291 in 1,517
Kansas#203111 in 1,626
Virginia#210241 in 1,469
Indiana#215181 in 2,202
New York#223721 in 1,611
Illinois#231501 in 1,677
Colorado#239121 in 2,094
Arizona#248141 in 1,687
Oklahoma#252121 in 2,153
Hawaii#27251 in 1,395
Mississippi#277101 in 1,925
South Carolina#283101 in 2,102
Florida#285321 in 2,064
Louisiana#291201 in 1,889
California#308831 in 2,468
North Carolina#315131 in 2,960
Kentucky#31771 in 3,827
Texas#318631 in 2,288
New Mexico#33451 in 2,315
Tennessee#33591 in 3,623
Arkansas#33651 in 3,073
Alabama#38171 in 3,722
Georgia#42891 in 4,506
Delaware
Maine
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Vermont
West Virginia
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 1982

girls
#3,172
27 births · 1 in 62,716 girls
boys
#240
973 births · 1 in 1,865 boys

Top girls' names in 1982

  1. #1Jennifer57,120
  2. #2Jessica45,453
  3. #3Amanda34,214
  4. #4Sarah28,483
  5. #5Melissa25,864
  6. #6Nicole21,706
  7. #7Stephanie20,861
  8. #8Elizabeth20,506
  9. #9Crystal19,099
  10. #10Amy18,799
  11. #3,172Karl27

Top boys' names in 1982

  1. #1Michael68,216
  2. #2Christopher59,223
  3. #3Matthew46,045
  4. #4Jason40,628
  5. #5David40,453
  6. #6James38,874
  7. #7Joshua38,004
  8. #8John34,698
  9. #9Robert34,409
  10. #10Daniel32,652
  11. #240Karl973
More about 1982

girls

1,693,325 girls got a published name in 1982; 1 in 62,716 of them was named Karl, which outranked 74.3% of the 12,332 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #3,093Yecenia28
  2. #3,093Yesica28
  3. #3,093Zakia28
  4. #3,172Karl27
  5. #3,172Abbigail27
  6. #3,172Alejandrina27
  7. #3,172Aliesha27
  8. #3,260Alva26
  9. #3,260Andera26
  10. #3,260Arlena26

Tied with 87 names at #3,172; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1981
Risers
  1. 1,715Kaleena#2,375#660
  2. 1,197Kala#1,958#761
  3. 1,094Chelsie#2,028#934
  4. 1,081Tenika#2,028#947
  5. 1,044Falon#1,958#914
Fallers
  1. 538Evita#779#1,317
  2. 517Martine#791#1,308
  3. 473Dusty#720#1,193
  4. 470Regan#991#1,461
  5. 401Windy#998#1,399

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

boys

1,814,447 boys got a published name in 1982; 1 in 1,865 of them was named Karl, which outranked 96.7% of the 7,367 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #236Darryl986
  2. #238Francis981
  3. #239Cedric977
  4. #240Karl973
  5. #241Dwayne964
  6. #242Damien951
  7. #243Ralph949
Biggest movers since 1981
Risers
  1. 1,958Colt#2,418#460
  2. 730Eliot#1,695#965
  3. 532Colton#1,334#802
  4. 478Kiel#1,101#623
  5. 416Eugenio#1,411#995
Fallers
  1. 309Marchello#841#1,150
  2. 237Carmen#851#1,088
  3. 234Claudio#976#1,210
  4. 224Irvin#826#1,050
  5. 222Jeramiah#971#1,193

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

See the top 100 for 1982