Karl

See also karl, and kärl

English

Alternative forms

• Carl

Etymology

From German and Scandinavian Karl. A variant of Charles.

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name.

Translations

cognates — see Charles

transliterations — see Carl

Anagrams

• lark, Lark

---

Danish

Alternative forms

• Carl

Etymology

From Old Norse Karl, from karl (“free man”), originally a nickname. Popularized by the fame of Charlemagne (Karl in Danish), from the same Proto-Germanic source.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /karl/, [kʰɑːˀl]

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name.

Related terms

• (feminine forms) Carla, Caroline, Charlotte, Karla, Karoline, Lina, Line, Liselotte, Lotte
• (surnames) Carlsen, Karlsen

References

• [1] Danskernes Navne, based on CPR data: 42 958 males with the given name Karl (compared to 42 636 named Carl) have been registered in Denmark between about 1890 (=the population alive in 1967) and January 2005, with the frequency peak in the 1910s. Accessed on 19 June 2011.

---

Estonian

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name, cognate with English Charles.

Usage notes

• Common first part of conjoined names, such as Karl-Markus or Karl Martin.

Related terms

• Kaarel, Kalle
• Karl Suur

---

German

Alternative forms

• Carl

Etymology

From Old High German karal, from Proto-Germanic *karlaz (“free man”). Cognate with French and English Charles.

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name.

Usage notes

• The most common given name of men born in Germany in late 19th century - early 20th century.
• A common first part of conjoined names such as Karl-Heinz or Karlheinz.

Related terms

• Kerl
• (feminine forms) Carla, Carola, Carolin, Caroline, Charlotte, Karla, Karolin, Karoline, Lieselotte, Lina, Liselotte, Lotte

---

Icelandic

Pronunciation

• IPA: [kʰard̥l] (

  listen

  (file)

  )

Proper noun

Karl m

1. A male given name equivalent to English Carl or Charles

---

Norwegian

Alternative forms

• Carl

Etymology

From Old Norse Karl, from karl (“free man”), originally a nickname. Popularized by the fame of Charlemagne (Karl in Norwegian), from the same Proto-Germanic source.

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name.

Related terms

• (feminine forms) Caroline, Charlotte, Karoline, Lina, Line, Lotte
• (surnames) Carlsen, Karlsen

References

• Kristoffer Kruken - Ola Stemshaug: Norsk personnamnleksikon, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo 1995, ISBN 82-521-4483-7
• [2] Statistisk sentralbyrå, Namnestatistikk: 9 245 males with the given name Karl (compared to 3726 named Carl) living in Norway on January 1st 2011, with the frequency peak in the 19th century. Accessed on 19 May, 2011.

---

Swedish

Alternative forms

• Carl

Etymology

From Old Norse Karl, from karl (“free man”), originally a nickname. Popularized by the fame of Charlemagne (Karl in Swedish), from the same Proto-Germanic source.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɑːrl/

Proper noun

Karl

1. A male given name.

Usage notes

• Name of nine kings of Sweden since the 12th century. As a given name first became popular in the 19th century.
• The most common given name of men born in Sweden in the 1920s and the 1930s.

Related terms

• karl
• (male given names) Charles, Kalle
• (female given names) Carola, Carolin, Carolina, Caroline, Charlotte, Charlotte, Karolina, Lina, Lotta
• (surnames) Carlsson, Karlsson

References

• Roland Otterbjörk: Svenska förnamn, Almqvist & Wiksell 1996, ISBN 91-21-10937-0
• [3] Statistiska centralbyrån and Sture Allén, Staffan Wåhlin, Förnamnsboken, Norstedts 1995, ISBN 9119551622: 209 909 males with the given name Karl (compared to 125 372 named Carl) living in Sweden on December 31st, 2010, with the frequency peak in the 1910s. Accessed on 19 June 2011.