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How Many People Are Named Karl?
Estimated people named Karl living in the U.S. today
68,380
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 101,648
- Peak year: 1960 (2,614 births)
- Estimated living today: 68,380
Karl by age group — who carries the name today?
Karl popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Karl
Karl has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 101,648 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 68,380 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 4,999 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Karls you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Karl in the US?
An estimated 68,380 people named Karl are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Karl rare — about 1 in 4,999 Americans.
Is Karl a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Karl is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Karl most popular?
Karl peaked in 1960, when 2,614 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Karl?
Karl ranks #728 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 43 out of 100 (higher means rarer).