Karel
Every Karel since 1916 — 1,814 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Karel
Karel is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1916, 1,814 American babies have been named Karel — about 67% girls and 33% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1939, when 76 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Karel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Karel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 5 | #12,966 |
| 2024 | — | — | 8 | #9,421 |
| 2023 | — | — | 22 | #4,670 |
| 2022 | — | — | 13 | #6,659 |
| 2021 | — | — | 6 | #11,445 |
| 2020 | — | — | 5 | #13,081 |
| 2019 | — | — | 11 | #7,408 |
| 2018 | — | — | 5 | #13,161 |
| 2017 | — | — | 5 | #13,257 |
| 2016 | — | — | 8 | #9,281 |
| 2015 | — | — | 7 | #10,091 |
| 2014 | — | — | 5 | #13,077 |
| 2013 | — | — | 7 | #10,200 |
| 2012 | — | — | 10 | #7,845 |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | 9 | #8,459 |
| 2009 | 9 | #11,939 | 17 | #5,430 |
| 2008 | — | — | 9 | #8,662 |
| 2007 | 7 | #14,661 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | 12 | #6,685 |
| 2005 | — | — | 15 | #5,438 |
| 2004 | 7 | #13,438 | 16 | #5,130 |
| 2003 | 5 | #17,018 | 8 | #8,239 |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 7 | #12,713 | 8 | #7,938 |
| 2000 | 5 | #16,242 | 5 | #11,303 |
| 1995 | 11 | #7,775 | 6 | #8,338 |
| 1990 | 7 | #10,737 | 7 | #6,804 |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,741 | 13 | #3,513 |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #5,905 |
| 1975 | 5 | #9,707 | — | — |
| 1970 | 10 | #5,213 | 5 | #5,091 |
| 1965 | 20 | #2,779 | — | — |
| 1960 | 26 | #2,333 | — | — |
| 1955 | 23 | #2,307 | 7 | #3,343 |
| 1950 | 36 | #1,559 | 5 | #3,950 |
| 1945 | 32 | #1,432 | — | — |
| 1940 | 50 | #1,014 | 5 | #3,710 |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,987 | 5 | #3,922 |
| 1930 | — | — | 6 | #3,808 |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | 9 | #3,082 |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Karel
- Karel Čapek Writer · 1890–1938
- Karel Gott Singer · 1939–2019
- Karel van Mander Painter · 1548–1606
- Karel Appel Painter · 1921–2006
- Karel Schwarzenberg Politician · b. 1937
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Karel in 2025?
Karel did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Karel?
1,814 babies have been named Karel in the United States since 1916, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Karel most popular?
Karel peaked in 1939, when 76 newborns received the name.
Is Karel a boy or girl name?
Karel is used for both: about 67% of babies named Karel have been girls and 33% boys.
Is the name Karel rising or falling?
Karel has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Karel?
Well-known people named Karel include Karel Čapek (writer), Karel Gott (singer), Karel van Mander (painter).