Karl

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Karl

Gender: Masculine
Language: German, Danish, Swedish, English
Etymology:
Karl is an old Germanic name (Charles is the English and French form). It comes from the word “ceorl,” which means “man.”

History:
Karl in Germany (like Charles in France) was a popular medieval name, especially in royal or noble families, due to Charlemagne (Charles the Great), the Frankish emperor who defeated the Muslims and organized the Holy Roman Empire. Karl was reintroduced to England from Germany in the 19th century.
Please see Charles for more information.

Pronunciation: carl.

Alternates:
English: Carl.

Feminine: Karla.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Karl Ludwig von Knebel (1744-1834)
German poet.
Karl von Piloty (1826-1886)
German painter.
Karl May (1842-1912)
German author.
Karl Shapiro (1913-)
American poet.

Educators, Scholar, and Social Workers:
Karl Follen (1796-1840)
American educator. Set up the first college gym.
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
German sociologist. Founder of Marxism.

Miscellaneous:
Karl Baedeker (1801-1859)
Founder of a series of travel guides.
Karl Mauch (1837-1875)
German explorer of Zimbabwe.

Political Figures:
Karl, Count von Stürgkh (1859-1916)
Prime Minister of Austria from 1911 until his assassination.

Royalty:
Karl XIV Johan of Sweden (1763-1844)
Elected to his throne.

Scientists:
Karl Jansky (1905-1950)
American engineer. Helped develop radio astronomy.
Karl Alex Müller (1927-)
Swiss physicist. Co-winner of the 1987 Nobel Prize for Physics or Medicine.

Singers and Entertainers:
Karl August Devrient (1797-1872)
German actor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.346 % named Carl
0.069 % named Karl

Popularity of Karl:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1875: 416th most popular.
1900-1910: 142nd most popular.
1910-1920: 174th most popular.
1920-1930: 238th most popular.
1930-1940: 189th most popular.
1940-1950: 190th most popular.
1950-1960: 168th most popular.
1960-1970: 156th most popular.
1970-1980: 225th most popular.
1980-1990: 232nd most popular.
1990: 302nd most popular.
1991: 322nd most popular.
1992: 342nd most popular.
1993: 362nd most popular.
1994: 389th most popular.
1995: 393rd most popular.
1996: 439th most popular.
1997: 452nd most popular.
1998: 479th most popular.
1999: 531st most popular.
2000: 566th most popular.
2001: 574th most popular.
2002: 603rd most popular.
2003: 654th most popular.

In France...
1900-1960: N/A
1967: 186th most popular.
1970: 155th most popular.
1976: 196th most popular.
1980-2000: N/A