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
- Peak · boys
- 1960 · 2,594 births
- Debut · boys
- 21 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 100,836since 1880
Karl over time
Rank among boys' names. Karl has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #1,585 | 107 | |
| 2024 | — | #1,685 | 99 | |
| 2023 | — | #1,681 | 101 | |
| 2022 | — | #1,425 | 128 | |
| 2021 | — | #1,529 | 115 | |
| 2020 | — | #1,568 | 104 | |
| 2019 | — | #1,283 | 145 | |
| 2018 | — | #1,282 | 143 | |
| 2017 | — | #1,287 | 141 | |
| 2016 | — | #1,149 | 167 | |
| 2015 | — | #1,075 | 184 | |
| 2014 | — | #1,147 | 165 | |
| 2013 | — | #1,096 | 169 | |
| 2012 | — | #1,135 | 161 | |
| 2011 | — | #1,078 | 173 | |
| 2010 | — | #1,086 | 177 | |
| 2009 | — | #966 | 207 | |
| 2008 | — | #1,019 | 188 | |
| 2007 | — | #859 | 242 | |
| 2006 | — | #769 | 270 | |
| 2005 | — | #752 | 265 | |
| 2004 | — | #695 | 281 | |
| 2003 | — | #658 | 300 | |
| 2002 | — | #608 | 330 | |
| 2001 | — | #580 | 351 | |
| 2000 | — | #564 | 366 | |
| 1999 | — | #534 | 390 | |
| 1998 | — | #481 | 455 | |
| 1997 | — | #459 | 483 | |
| 1996 | — | #446 | 504 | |
| 1995 | — | #391 | 598 | |
| 1994 | — | #381 | 612 | |
| 1993 | #8,719 | 9 | #357 | 662 |
| 1992 | — | #336 | 738 | |
| 1991 | #11,509 | 6 | #317 | 811 |
| 1990 | #11,409 | 6 | #295 | 858 |
| 1989 | #5,836 | 14 | #273 | 908 |
| 1988 | #3,893 | 23 | #274 | 843 |
| 1987 | #3,743 | 23 | #260 | 853 |
| 1986 | #3,135 | 29 | #248 | 904 |
| 1985 | #2,939 | 31 | #242 | 961 |
| 1984 | #3,423 | 24 | #244 | 896 |
| 1983 | #2,910 | 29 | #242 | 911 |
| 1982 | #3,172 | 27 | #240 | 973 |
| 1981 | #3,147 | 27 | #226 | 1,062 |
| 1980 | #3,411 | 24 | #225 | 1,060 |
| 1979 | #3,668 | 21 | #234 | 956 |
| 1978 | #3,388 | 22 | #232 | 900 |
| 1977 | #3,083 | 25 | #230 | 941 |
| 1976 | #2,865 | 26 | #234 | 868 |
| 1975 | #2,881 | 25 | #226 | 904 |
| 1974 | #2,757 | 26 | #214 | 1,004 |
| 1973 | #2,349 | 32 | #220 | 985 |
| 1972 | #2,680 | 26 | #199 | 1,167 |
| 1971 | #2,955 | 23 | #191 | 1,323 |
| 1970 | #2,938 | 23 | #177 | 1,575 |
| 1969 | #2,058 | 37 | #180 | 1,565 |
| 1968 | #2,708 | 22 | #168 | 1,598 |
| 1967 | #2,212 | 29 | #159 | 1,695 |
| 1966 | #2,839 | 19 | #158 | 1,792 |
| 1965 | #2,833 | 19 | #154 | 2,019 |
| 1964 | #3,000 | 18 | #135 | 2,403 |
| 1963 | #2,543 | 23 | #136 | 2,513 |
| 1962 | #2,668 | 21 | #142 | 2,457 |
| 1961 | #3,060 | 17 | #138 | 2,543 |
| 1960 | #2,729 | 20 | #135 | 2,594 |
| 1959 | #2,678 | 19 | #148 | 2,354 |
| 1958 | #3,232 | 14 | #146 | 2,348 |
| 1957 | #5,377 | 6 | #146 | 2,338 |
| 1956 | #3,186 | 14 | #150 | 2,060 |
| 1955 | #4,740 | 7 | #149 | 1,935 |
| 1954 | — | #166 | 1,736 | |
| 1953 | — | #163 | 1,653 | |
| 1952 | — | #170 | 1,564 | |
| 1951 | #4,385 | 7 | #175 | 1,439 |
| 1950 | — | #172 | 1,304 | |
| 1949 | — | #172 | 1,321 | |
| 1948 | — | #179 | 1,187 | |
| 1947 | #4,764 | 6 | #184 | 1,119 |
| 1946 | — | #185 | 998 | |
| 1945 | — | #196 | 758 | |
| 1944 | — | #186 | 837 | |
| 1943 | #4,691 | 5 | #182 | 907 |
| 1942 | #4,622 | 5 | #179 | 878 |
| 1941 | — | #177 | 864 | |
| 1940 | — | #174 | 855 | |
| 1939 | — | #171 | 866 | |
| 1938 | — | #162 | 985 | |
| 1937 | — | #162 | 907 | |
| 1936 | #4,181 | 5 | #165 | 830 |
| 1935 | — | #171 | 812 | |
| 1934 | #3,802 | 6 | #186 | 689 |
| 1933 | #4,218 | 5 | #181 | 681 |
| 1932 | — | #193 | 670 | |
| 1931 | #3,497 | 7 | #204 | 635 |
| 1930 | #3,658 | 7 | #206 | 648 |
| 1929 | #3,682 | 7 | #207 | 637 |
| 1928 | #3,436 | 8 | #219 | 599 |
| 1927 | #3,561 | 8 | #211 | 630 |
| 1926 | — | #226 | 595 | |
| 1925 | #4,028 | 7 | #225 | 589 |
| 1924 | #5,061 | 5 | #232 | 584 |
| 1923 | — | #235 | 565 | |
| 1922 | — | #246 | 527 | |
| 1921 | — | #233 | 573 | |
| 1920 | — | #245 | 502 | |
| 1919 | #3,817 | 7 | #234 | 515 |
| 1918 | — | #209 | 600 | |
| 1917 | — | #180 | 673 | |
| 1916 | #3,258 | 8 | #176 | 685 |
| 1915 | #3,795 | 6 | #160 | 715 |
| 1914 | — | #161 | 548 | |
| 1913 | — | #177 | 387 | |
| 1912 | — | #182 | 323 | |
| 1911 | — | #194 | 156 | |
| 1910 | — | #252 | 92 | |
| 1909 | — | #207 | 102 | |
| 1908 | — | #209 | 97 | |
| 1907 | — | #213 | 89 | |
| 1906 | — | #169 | 108 | |
| 1905 | — | #241 | 65 | |
| 1904 | — | #230 | 67 | |
| 1903 | — | #212 | 70 | |
| 1902 | — | #223 | 65 | |
| 1901 | — | #235 | 54 | |
| 1900 | — | #230 | 75 | |
| 1899 | — | #238 | 49 | |
| 1898 | — | #239 | 53 | |
| 1897 | — | #232 | 57 | |
| 1896 | — | #234 | 60 | |
| 1895 | — | #211 | 67 | |
| 1894 | — | #199 | 73 | |
| 1893 | — | #215 | 63 | |
| 1892 | — | #228 | 59 | |
| 1891 | — | #202 | 61 | |
| 1890 | — | #246 | 47 | |
| 1889 | — | #229 | 50 | |
| 1888 | — | #206 | 71 | |
| 1887 | — | #224 | 49 | |
| 1886 | — | #248 | 48 | |
| 1885 | — | #248 | 44 | |
| 1884 | — | #296 | 34 | |
| 1883 | — | #284 | 33 | |
| 1882 | — | #272 | 40 | |
| 1881 | — | #296 | 29 | |
| 1880 | — | #373 | 21 | |
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 1986
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Delaware#107 · 1 in 662
- Wisconsin#110 · 1 in 754
- Minnesota#119 · 1 in 878
- Maine#123 · 1 in 806
- Rhode Island#136 · 1 in 1,196
Best ever in a state: #56 in Utah, 1941.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | #107 | 6 | 1 in 662 |
| Wisconsin | #110 | 44 | 1 in 754 |
| Minnesota | #119 | 35 | 1 in 878 |
| Maine | #123 | 9 | 1 in 806 |
| Rhode Island | #136 | 5 | 1 in 1,196 |
| North Dakota | #139 | 6 | 1 in 859 |
| Utah | #148 | 18 | 1 in 918 |
| South Dakota | #158 | 5 | 1 in 956 |
| Idaho | #161 | 7 | 1 in 972 |
| Michigan | #177 | 43 | 1 in 1,484 |
| Washington | #184 | 22 | 1 in 1,423 |
| Hawaii | #185 | 7 | 1 in 927 |
| Pennsylvania | #189 | 45 | 1 in 1,716 |
| Connecticut | #194 | 12 | 1 in 1,693 |
| Virginia | #197 | 26 | 1 in 1,454 |
| Massachusetts | #199 | 18 | 1 in 2,179 |
| Oregon | #200 | 11 | 1 in 1,634 |
| District of Columbia | #202 | 7 | 1 in 1,072 |
| Ohio | #208 | 36 | 1 in 2,097 |
| Colorado | #210 | 16 | 1 in 1,573 |
| Indiana | #212 | 19 | 1 in 1,945 |
| Maryland | #212 | 17 | 1 in 1,665 |
| Illinois | #214 | 56 | 1 in 1,425 |
| New York | #219 | 80 | 1 in 1,527 |
| New Jersey | #233 | 24 | 1 in 1,983 |
| Mississippi | #243 | 11 | 1 in 1,552 |
| South Carolina | #259 | 11 | 1 in 1,916 |
| Arizona | #264 | 14 | 1 in 1,944 |
| Missouri | #264 | 14 | 1 in 2,570 |
| Kansas | #265 | 7 | 1 in 2,466 |
| Oklahoma | #265 | 10 | 1 in 2,249 |
| North Carolina | #271 | 18 | 1 in 2,271 |
| Arkansas | #284 | 6 | 1 in 2,460 |
| Florida | #287 | 35 | 1 in 2,183 |
| New Mexico | #304 | 6 | 1 in 1,892 |
| Louisiana | #308 | 17 | 1 in 2,003 |
| California | #319 | 87 | 1 in 2,624 |
| Alabama | #344 | 8 | 1 in 3,160 |
| Texas | #400 | 42 | 1 in 3,484 |
| Tennessee | #421 | 6 | 1 in 5,220 |
| Georgia | #429 | 10 | 1 in 4,419 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1960 at #135 (2,594 births)
- Births halved by 1972, 12 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 129 yrs · run 1880–2007
- 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
- 21.0% of all boys named Karl (21,179) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 419 | #206 (1888) | #268 |
| 1890s | 589 | #199 (1894) | #224 |
| 1900s | 792 | #169 (1906) | #217 |
| 1910s | 4,694 | #160 (1915) | #193 |
| 1920s | 5,801 | #207 (1929) | #228 |
| 1930s | 7,723 | #162 (1938) | #180 |
| 1940s | 9,724 | #172 (1949) | #181 |
| 1950s | 18,731 | #146 (1958) | #159 |
| 1960s | 21,179 | #135 (1960) | #151 |
| 1970s | 10,623 | #177 (1970) | #216 |
| 1980s | 9,371 | #225 (1980) | #247 |
| 1990s | 6,111 | #295 (1990) | #400 |
| 2000s | 2,800 | #564 (2000) | #747 |
| 2010s | 1,625 | #1,075 (2015) | #1,162 |
| 2020s | 654 | #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 1986
Top girls' names in 1986
Top boys' names in 1986
More about 1986
girls
1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 59,157 of them was named Karl, which outranked 75.6% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #3,054Willa30
- #3,054Zipporah30
- #3,054Zoraida30
- #3,135Karl29
- #3,135Alejandrina29
- #3,135Areli29
- #3,135Audrie29
- #3,203Adrien28
- #3,203Alfreda28
- #3,203Aminah28
Tied with 67 names at #3,135; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 2,037 of them was named Karl, which outranked 96.8% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.