Karl is a Germanic masculine name. It comes from Old High German, meaning 'man, husband, freeman' and was widely popularised in Central and Northern Europe by its status as a royal name, in particular through the

Frankish Frankish may refer to: * Franks, a Germanic tribe and their culture ** Frankish language or its modern descendants, Franconian languages, a group of Low Germanic languages also commonly referred to as "Frankish" varieties * Francia, a post-Roman ...

Emperor

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...

.
Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022. It is popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and was popularized by German-speaking descendants in the United States. Carl (name), Carl is another spelling of the name, and is popular in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, and largely popularized in the United States by Scandinavian and Italian (shortened from "Carlo") descendants. The name is a variant of the English

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

, and the Latin Carolus. Notable people with the name include:

Nobles

*, also known as in Latin and in French, (747–814), a Frankish King and the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire * Karl, Truchsess von Waldburg (1548–1593), Imperial minister * Karl, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1783–1868), Austrian chancellor, Government President and school reformer of Bohemia * Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1813–1878), German duke * Karl, Prince of Isenburg-Büdingen (1838–1899), head of the German house of Isenburg and Büdingen * Karl, Freiherr von Prel (1839–1899), German philosopher and writer on mysticism and the occult * Karl I of Austria (1887–1922), the last Emperor of Austria * Karl, 8th Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1904–1990), German Roman Catholic nobleman

Given name

Karl Abraham Karl Abraham (; 3 May 1877 – 25 December 1925) was an influential German psychoanalyst, and a collaborator of Sigmund Freud, who called him his 'best pupil'. Life Abraham was born in Bremen, Germany. His parents were Nathan Abraham, a Jewish ...

(1877–1925), German psychoanalyst * Karl Albrecht (1920–2014), German entrepreneur and billionaire * Karl Auerbach (born 1949), American computer scientist *

Karl Barth Karl Barth (; ; – ) was a Swiss Reformed theologian. Barth is best known for his commentary '' The Epistle to the Romans'', his involvement in the Confessing Church, including his authorship (except for a single phrase) of the Barmen Decl ...

(1886–1968), seminal Swiss Reformed Theologian *

Karl Bartos Karl Bartos (born 31 May 1952) is a German musician and composer known for his contributions to the electronic band Kraftwerk. Career Karlheinz Bartos was born on 31 May 1952 in Marktschellenberg, Germany, named after his grandfathers Karl a ...

(born 1952), German musician * Karl Becker (general) (1879–1940), German engineer and officer *

Karl Becker (painter) Karl Ludwig Friedrich Becker (18 December 1820 – 20 December 1900) was a German history Painting, painter and president of the Prussian Academy of Arts, Berlin Academy. Biography Becker was born and died in Berlin. He was a pupil of August vo ...

(1820–1900), German painter * Karl Becker (philologist) (1775–1849), German philologist * Karl Beckersachs (1886–1951), German actor *

Karl Benz Carl (or Karl) Friedrich Benz (; born Karl Friedrich Michael Vaillant; 25 November 1844 – 4 April 1929) was a German engine designer and automotive engineer. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen from 1885 is considered the first practical modern automo ...

(1844–1929), German engineer * Karl Berggren, American electrical engineer * Karl August Leopold Böhm (1894–1981), Austrian conductor * Karl von In der Maur (1852–1913), Austrian statesman *

Karl Blossfeldt Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 18659 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor. He is best known for his close-up photographs of plants and living things, published in 1929 as ''Urformen der Kunst''. He was inspired, as was his father, by n ...

(1865–1932), German artist *

Karl Böhm Karl August Leopold Böhm (28 August 1894 – 14 August 1981) was an Austrian conductor. He was best known for his performances of the music of Mozart, Wagner, and Richard Strauss. Life and career Education Karl Böhm was born in Graz, St ...

(1894–1981), Austrian conductor * Karl Bonatz (1882–1951), German architect *

Karl Brandt Karl Brandt (8 January 1904 – 2 June 1948) was a German physician and ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) officer in Nazi Germany. Trained in surgery, Brandt joined the Nazi Party in 1932 and became Adolf Hitler's escort doctor in August 1934. A member of ...

(1904–1948), German Nazi SS physician executed for war crimes *

Karl Ferdinand Braun Karl Ferdinand Braun (; ; 6 June 1850 – 20 April 1918) was a German physicist, electrical engineer, and inventor. Braun contributed significantly to the development of radio with his 2 circuit system, which made long range radio transmiss ...

(1850–1918), German electrical engineer *

Karl Briullov Karl Pavlovich Bryullov ( Bryullo; ; – ) was a Russian painter and draughtsman during the Romantic period, remembered among the greatest visual artists in the history of Russian art. Biography Karl Bryullov was born on 12 (23) December 179 ...

, Russian painter * Karl Brooks (born 2000), American football player * Karl Brugger (1941–1984), German foreign correspondent and author * Karl Chmielewski, German Nazi SS concentration camp commandant * Karl Chua (born 1978), Filipino economist * Karl Collins, British actor * Karl Cook (born 1990), American show jumper *

Karl Dall Karl Bernhard Dall (, 1 February 1941 – 23 November 2020) was a German comedian, singer, and television presenter. His distinctive 'hanging' eye was caused by a congenital ptosis. Family Karl Dall was born in Emden, the son of a scho ...

(1941–2020), German comedian and singer * Karl Davies (born 1982), English actor *

Karl Denke Karl Denke (11 February 1860 – 22 December 1924) was a German serial killer and cannibal who killed and cannibalized dozens of homeless vagrants and travellers from 1903 to 1924. He has been nicknamed the Cannibal of Münsterberg and the For ...

(1860–1924), prolific and cannibalistic German serial killer * Karl Ludwig Diehl (1896–1958), German actor *

Karl Dönitz Karl Dönitz (; 16 September 1891 – 24 December 1980) was a German grand admiral and convicted war criminal who, following Adolf Hitler's Death of Adolf Hitler, suicide, succeeded him as head of state of Nazi Germany during the Second World ...

(1891–1980), German admiral * Karl Drews (1920–1963), American baseball player * Karl Duldig (1902–1986), Austrian-Australian sculptor * Karl Etlinger (1879–1946), German actor * Karl Farmer (born 1954), American football player *

Karl Fazer Karl Otto Fazer (, 16 August 1866 – 9 October 1932) was a Finnish chocolatier and sport shooter. Biography He was born in Helsinki. He had four children and was the grandfather of Peter Fazer. His father, Eduard Peter Fazer (originally Fat ...

(1866–1932), Finnish businessman and sport shooter * Karl Fritzsch (1903–1945), German Nazi SS concentration camp commandant who was the first to use Zyklon B for mass murder *

Karl Gebhardt Karl Franz Gebhardt (23 November 1897 – 2 June 1948) was a Nazi physician and a war criminal. Gebhardt was the main coordinator of a series of medical atrocities performed on inmates of the concentration camps at Ravensbrück and Auschwitz. ...

(1897–1948), German Nazi SS physician who conducted criminal medical experiments, executed for war crimes * Karl Glusman (born 1988), American actor * Karl Göbel (1900–1945), Nazi Germany general * Karl Green (born 1947) British musician, bass player for British pop group

Herman's Hermits Herman's Hermits are an English rock and pop group formed in 1963 in Manchester and formerly fronted by singer Peter Noone. Known for their jaunty beat sound and Noone's often tongue-in-cheek vocal style, the Hermits charted with numerous tra ...

* Karl Hammes (1896–1939), German operatic baritone and fighter pilot * Karl Hannemann (1895–1953), German actor * Karl Harst (1492–1563), German diplomat and assistant of Erasmus *

Karl Amadeus Hartmann Karl Amadeus Hartmann (2 August 1905 – 5 December 1963) was a German composer. A major figure of the musical life of post-war Germany, he has been described as the greatest German symphonist of the 20th century. Life Born in Munich, the son ...

(1905–1963), German composer *

Karl Haushofer Karl Ernst Haushofer (27 August 1869 – 10 March 1946) was a German general, professor, geographer, and diplomat. Haushofer's concept of Geopolitik influenced the ideological development of Adolf Hitler. Rudolf Hess was also a student of ...

(1869–1946), German geopolitician *

Karl Hess Karl Hess (born Carl Hess III; May 25, 1923 – April 22, 1994) was an American speechwriter and author. He was also a political philosopher, editor, welder, motorcycle racer, tax resister, and libertarian activist. His career included stints o ...

(1923–1994), American comedian * Karl Hoblitzelle (1879–1967), American theater owner and philanthropist * Karl-Friedrich Höcker (1911–2000), German Nazi SS concentration camp officer and war criminal * Karl Holz (Nazi) (1895–1945), German Nazi *

Karl Hyde Karl Hyde (born 10 May 1957) is an English musician, composer and artist. He is a founding member of British electronic group Underworld. Hyde has also released a solo album, made albums with Brian Eno and Matthew Herbert, and contributed towar ...

(born 1957), English musician *

Karl Jacobs Karl Thomas Jacobs (born July 19, 1998), formerly known as GamerBoyKarl, is an American YouTuber, author, writer, and producer. He rose to prominence as a member of MrBeast's on-screen cast and then developed his own videos, primarily ''Minecraft ...

(born 1998), American streamer and YouTuber *

Karl Guthe Jansky Karl Guthe Jansky (October 22, 1905 – February 14, 1950) was an American physicist and radio engineer who in April 1933 first announced his discovery of radio waves emanating from the Milky Way in the constellation Sagittarius. He is consider ...

(1905–1950), American physicist and radio engineer *

Karl Jaspers Karl Theodor Jaspers (; ; 23 February 1883 – 26 February 1969) was a German-Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher who had a strong influence on modern theology, psychiatry, and philosophy. His 1913 work ''General Psychopathology'' influenced many ...

(1883–1969), German philosopher * Karl Joseph (born 1993), American football player * Karl Kalkun (1927–1990), Estonian actor * Karl Kassulke (1941–2008), American football player * Karl Heinrich Kaufhold (1932–2020), German economic historian *

Karl Keating Karl Keating (born 1950) is a Catholic apologist and author who founded and presided over Catholic Answers, a lay apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization. Keating's book ''Catholicism and Fundamentalism'' was based on a 1988 series t ...

(born 1950), American Catholic apologist * Karl Klug (born 1988), American football player *

Karl Kneidinger Karl Kneidinger (30 August 1882 – 14 April 1952), was an Austrian stage and film actor, and a theater director. Biography Karl Kneidinger was born 30 August 1882 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria), the son of actress Marie Kneidinger (1 ...

(1882–1952), Austrian actor * Karl-Otto Koch (1897–1945), German Nazi commandant of concentration camps *

Karl Kraus (writer) Karl Kraus (; 28 April 1874 – 12 June 1936) was an Austrian writer and journalist, known as a satirist, essayist, aphorist, playwright and poet. He directed his satire at the press, German culture, and German and Austrian politics. He was nomi ...

(1874–1936), Austrian writer *

Karl Christian Friedrich Krause Karl Christian Friedrich Krause (; 6 May 1781 – 27 September 1832) was a German philosopher whose doctrines became known as Krausism. Krausism, when considered in its totality as a complete, stand-alone philosophical system, had only a small ...

(1781–1832), German philosopher * Karl Kruszelnicki (born 1948), Australian television and radio personality * Karl Künstler (1901–1945), German Nazi SS concentration camp commandant *

Karl Lagerfeld Karl Otto Lagerfeld also called Kaiser Karl (; 10 September 1933 – 19 February 2019) was a German fashion designer, photographer, and creative director. Lagerfeld began his career in fashion in the 1950s, working for several top fashion hous ...

(1933–2019), German fashion designer *

Karl Landsteiner Karl Landsteiner (; 14 June 1868 – 26 June 1943) was an Austrian-American biologist, physician, and immunologist. He emigrated with his family to New York in 1923 at the age of 55 for professional opportunities, working for the Rockefeller ...

(1868–1943), Austrian biologist and physician * Karl Lauterbach (born 1963), German Federal Minister of Health * Karl Lehmann (1936–2018), German prelate of the Catholic Church, Bishop of Mainz from 1983 to 2016 * Karl Leo Heinrich Lehmann (1894–1960), German-born American art historian, archaeologist, and professor *

Karl Linnas Karl Linnas (August 6, 1919 – July 2, 1987) was an Estonian who was sentenced to death during the Holocaust trials in Soviet Estonia in 1961–1962. He was later deported from the United States to the Soviet Union in 1987. Linnas was tried ...

(1919–1987), Estonian Nazi concentration camp commandant * Karl Lucas (born 1972), English actor and comedian *

Karl Malden Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American stage, movie and television actor who first achieved acclaim in the original Broadway productions of Arthur Miller's '' All My Sons'' and Tennessee Will ...

(1912–2009), American actor *

Karl Malone Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Mailman", he is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Malone spen ...

(born 1963), American basketball player *

Karl Maron Karl Maron (1903–1975) was a German politician, who served as the interior minister of East Germany. He also assumed different posts in East Germany's government. Early life and education Maron was born in Berlin on 27 April 1903 and was educa ...

(1903–1975), German politician *

Karl Marx Karl Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, political theorist, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. He is best-known for the 1848 pamphlet '' The Communist Manifesto'' (written with Friedrich Engels) ...

(1818–1883), Prussian philosopher, father of historical materialism * Karl Mecklenburg (born 1960), American football player * Karl Möckel (1901–1948), German Nazi SS officer at Auschwitz concentration camp executed for war crimes *

Karl Moik Karl Moik (19 June 1938 – 26 March 2015) was an Austrian television presenter and singer. Life Moik was born in Linz. He became famous in Austria, Germany, German-speaking Switzerland and South Tyrol as the television presenter of the music ...

(1938–2015), Austrian television presenter and singer *

Karl Nehammer Karl Nehammer (; born 18 October 1972) is an Austrian politician who served as the 28th chancellor of Austria from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), he previously was Minister of the Interior (Austria), Minister of th ...

(born 1972), Austrian politician * Karl Olive (born 1969), French sports journalist and politician * Karl Olson (1930–2010), American baseball player * Karl von Oberkamp (1893–1947), German SS commander executed for war crimes *

Karl Pearson Karl Pearson (; born Carl Pearson; 27 March 1857 – 27 April 1936) was an English biostatistician and mathematician. He has been credited with establishing the discipline of mathematical statistics. He founded the world's first university ...

(1857–1936), English statistician *

Karl Pilkington Karl Pilkington (born 23 September 1972) is an English presenter, actor, voice-artist, producer and author. After working with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as producer on their Xfm radio show, Pilkington became a co-host of '' The Ricky ...

(born 1972), English podcaster, author and former radio producer *

Karl Platen Karl Platen (6 March 1877 – 4 July 1952) was a German actor and cinematographer of the Silent film, silent era and later the sound era and known for ''Girl in the Moon (film), Girl in the Moon'' (1929) and ''M (1931 film), M'' (1931). Biogr ...

(1877–1952), German actor *

Karl Popper Sir Karl Raimund Popper (28 July 1902 – 17 September 1994) was an Austrian–British philosopher, academic and social commentator. One of the 20th century's most influential philosophers of science, Popper is known for his rejection of the ...

(1902–1994), Austrian/British philosopher * Karl Power, British prankster * Karl Rahm (1907–1947), German SS officer, commandant of the Theresienstadt concentration camp executed for war crimes *

Karl Rapp Karl Friedrich Rapp (24 September 1882 – 26 May 1962) was a German founder and owner of the Rapp Motorenwerke GmbH in Munich. In time, this company became BMW AG. He is acknowledged by BMW AG as an indirect founder of the company. Early l ...

(1882–1962), German engineer * Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes, American baseball player *

Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is an American Republican political consultant, policy advisor, and lobbyist. He was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff during the George W. Bush administration until his resignation on August ...

(born 1950), American political advisor * Karl Roy (1968–2012), Filipino rock singer * Karl Schiewerling (1951–2021), German politician * Karl Silfverberg (1899–1978), Swedish Air Force major general *

Karl Heinz Schnell Karl-Heinz Schnell (10 January 1915 – 13 March 2013) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace, ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. For the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and success. ...

(1915–2013), German jet pilot during WW II * Karl Eberhard Schöngarth (1903–1946), German Nazi SS war criminal, executed for war crimes * Karl Schädler (1804–1872), President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein * Karl Shiels (1971–2019), Irish actor * Karl Schlyter (1879–1959), Swedish jurist and politician * Karl Singer (born 1943), American football player * Karl Söllner, (1903–1986), German-Austrian chemist *

Karl Stefanovic Karl Stefanovic ( sr-Cyrl, Карл Стефановић; born 12 August 1974), also spelt Karl Stefanović, is an Australian television presenter and journalist for the Nine Network. Stefanovic is currently a co-host of the Nine Network's br ...

(born 1971), Australian television presenter * Karl Steubl (1910–1945), Nazi war criminal * Karl Streibel (1903–1986), German Nazi SS concentration camp commandant * Karl Svoboda (born 1962), Canadian rugby union footballer * Karl Svoboda (politician) (1929–2022), Austrian politician * Karl O. Thomas (born 1963), United States Navy vice admiral *

Karl Urban Karl-Heinz Urban (born 7 June 1972) is a New Zealand actor. His career began with appearances in New Zealand films and television series such as '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. His first Hollywood role was in the 2002 horror film ''Ghost Ship''. ...

(born 1972), New Zealand actor * Karl Virtanen (born 1971), Swedish-Finnish journalist * Karl Edward Wagner (1945–1994), American writer, editor and publisher *

Karl Wallenda Karl Wallenda (; January 21, 1905 – March 22, 1978) was a German-American tightrope walking, high wire artist. He was the founder of The Flying Wallendas, a stunt performer, daredevil circus troupe whose members performed dangerous stunts far ...

(1905–1978), German-born tightrope artist *

Karl Weierstrass Karl Theodor Wilhelm Weierstrass (; ; 31 October 1815 – 19 February 1897) was a German mathematician often cited as the " father of modern analysis". Despite leaving university without a degree, he studied mathematics and trained as a school t ...

(1815–1897), German mathematician * Karl Wendlinger (born 1968), Austrian race car driver * Karl Williams (born 1971), American football player * Karl Michael Ziehrer (1843–1922), Austrian composer

Fictional characters

*Karl the Giant, a character from the 2003 film ''

Big Fish ''Big Fish'' is a 2003 American fantasy drama film directed by Tim Burton. It is based on the 1998 novel '' Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions'' by Daniel Wallace. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange ...

'' * Karl C. Agathon, a character in the re-imagined ''

Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. It began with the original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel series, '' Galactica 1980'', a line of book adaptat ...

'' series *Karl Childers, protagonist in the 1996 film ''

Sling Blade ''Sling Blade'' is a 1996 American psychological drama film written, directed by and starring Billy Bob Thornton. Set in Arkansas, it is the story of intellectually challenged Karl Childers and the friendship he develops with a boy and his moth ...

'' *Karl Haulzemoff, a character in the 2011 film ''

Cars 2 ''Cars 2'' is a 2011 American animated spy comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the sequel to '' Cars'' (2006), the second film in the ''Cars'' franchise, and the 12th animated film from the studio ...

'' *Karl Hootkin, a character in the 2012 film '' Big Miracle'' * Karl Mayer, divorce attorney and ex-husband of

Susan Mayer Susan Delfino (née Bremmer and formerly Mayer) is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry. She first appe ...

on ''

Desperate Housewives ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created by Marc Cherry, and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a tota ...

'' * Karl Morgenthau, the first Marvel Comics supervillain known as Flag-Smasher *

Karl Stromberg Karl Sigmund Stromberg is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1977 James Bond film '' The Spy Who Loved Me''. Stromberg was portrayed by Curd Jürgens. The character Stromberg was created specifically for the film by writer Chris ...

, the main antagonist in the 1977 James Bond film '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' *Karl Tanner, a character in the TV series ''

Game of Thrones ''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...

'' *Karl Walken, fictional mayor in ''

Black Cat A black cat is a Cat, domestic cat with black fur. They may be a specific Purebred, breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular or mixed breed. Most black cats have golden iris (anatomy), irises due to their high melanin pigment content. Bl ...

'' magna series

References

{{Given name German masculine given names Swedish masculine given names Norwegian masculine given names Danish masculine given names Estonian masculine given names Icelandic masculine given names Finnish masculine given names Dutch masculine given names English masculine given names Masculine given names

Nobles

Given name

Fictional characters

See also

References