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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201934peak #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 1934

  • 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: #59 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 308 boysNHWashington: #115 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 596 boysWAIdaho: #94 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 372 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #171 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,424 boysMNIllinois: #147 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 1,157 boysILWisconsin: #125 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 887 boysWIMichigan: #124 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 848 boysMINew York: #126 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 1,044 boysNYMassachusetts: #106 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,092 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedRIOregon: #132 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 767 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: #154 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 948 boysIAIndiana: #169 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,348 boysINOhio: #110 for boys · 62 births · 1 in 740 boysOHPennsylvania: #102 for boys · 83 births · 1 in 852 boysPANew Jersey: #96 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 748 boysNJConnecticut: #111 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 959 boysCTCalifornia: #193 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,423 boysCAUtah: #90 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 365 boysUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNEMissouri: #222 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,962 boysMOKentucky: #305 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,946 boysKYWest Virginia: #256 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,233 boysWVVirginia: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedVAMaryland: #181 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,879 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNMKansas: #163 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 983 boysKSArkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedARTennessee: #301 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,197 boysTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #310 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,837 boysOKLouisiana: #226 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,355 boysLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedMSAlabama: #466 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,560 boysALGeorgia: #449 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,762 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedHITexas: #458 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 4,161 boysTXFlorida: fewer than 5 boys named Karl, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Hampshire#59 · 1 in 308
  2. Utah#90 · 1 in 365
  3. Idaho#94 · 1 in 372
  4. New Jersey#96 · 1 in 748
  5. Pennsylvania#102 · 1 in 852

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Hampshire#59101 in 308
Utah#90131 in 365
Idaho#94101 in 372
New Jersey#96321 in 748
Pennsylvania#102831 in 852
Massachusetts#106261 in 1,092
Ohio#110621 in 740
Connecticut#111101 in 959
Washington#115161 in 596
Michigan#124441 in 848
Wisconsin#125261 in 887
New York#126801 in 1,044
Oregon#13271 in 767
Illinois#147441 in 1,157
Iowa#154201 in 948
Kansas#163141 in 983
Indiana#169171 in 1,348
Minnesota#171141 in 1,424
Maryland#18161 in 1,879
California#193251 in 1,423
Missouri#222141 in 1,962
Louisiana#226141 in 1,355
West Virginia#25681 in 2,233
Tennessee#30181 in 3,197
Kentucky#30591 in 2,946
Oklahoma#31081 in 2,837
Georgia#44951 in 5,762
Texas#458141 in 4,161
Alabama#46651 in 5,560
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Mexico———
North Carolina———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
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 1934

girls
#3,802
6 births · 1 in 174,038 girls
boys
#186
689 births · 1 in 1,499 boys

Top girls' names in 1934

  1. #1Mary56,929
  2. #2Betty31,089
  3. #3Barbara29,239
  4. #4Shirley22,841
  5. #5Dorothy21,281
  6. #6Patricia20,844
  7. #7Joan19,465
  8. #8Margaret15,144
  9. #9Helen14,100
  10. #10Nancy13,520
  11. #3,802Karl6

Top boys' names in 1934

  1. #1Robert55,843
  2. #2James54,270
  3. #3John46,743
  4. #4William40,175
  5. #5Richard33,167
  6. #6Donald30,408
  7. #7Charles29,790
  8. #8George18,500
  9. #9Thomas17,373
  10. #10Joseph17,111
  11. #186Karl689
More about 1934

girls

1,044,225 girls got a published name in 1934; 1 in 174,038 of them was named Karl, which outranked 23.5% of the 4,973 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #3,449Zelia7
  2. #3,449Zelphia7
  3. #3,449Zilla7
  4. #3,802Karl6
  5. #3,802Adalene6
  6. #3,802Adria6
  7. #3,802Agueda6
  8. #4,286Adalyn5
  9. #4,286Adelma5
  10. #4,286Adrene5

Tied with 483 names at #3,802; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 571Luann#1,442 → #871
  2. ↑ 469Alison#1,442 → #973
  3. ↑ 439Golda#1,364 → #925
  4. ↑ 350Ronald#1,244 → #894
  5. ↑ 346Gale#1,102 → #756
Fallers
  1. ↓ 685Nira#463 → #1,148
  2. ↓ 342Vina#782 → #1,124
  3. ↓ 316Zita#947 → #1,263
  4. ↓ 299Myrtie#834 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 278Theola#985 → #1,263

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

boys

1,032,596 boys got a published name in 1934; 1 in 1,499 of them was named Karl, which outranked 95.6% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Karl
  1. #183Clayton717
  2. #184Alton713
  3. #185Mark702
  4. #186Karl689
  5. #187Benny684
  6. #188Marshall676
  7. #189Clifton666
Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 746Lanny#1,361 → #615
  2. ↑ 630Kerry#1,586 → #956
  3. ↑ 620Marland#1,456 → #836
  4. ↑ 404Kirk#1,202 → #798
  5. ↑ 350Valentin#1,281 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 730Neville#995 → #1,725
  2. ↓ 616Garner#770 → #1,386
  3. ↓ 520Vivian#905 → #1,425
  4. ↓ 488Finis#869 → #1,357
  5. ↓ 464Malcom#961 → #1,425

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

See the top 100 for 1934 →