How Many People Are Named Karl?
Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Karl
An estimated 5,189 living people in the United States currently have the first name Karl. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 5,632 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #490 in all-time national frequency.
| Demographic Metric | Calculated Value | Source & Methodology |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Living U.S. Bearers | ~5,189 | CDC Actuarial Life Table Model |
| All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024) | 5,632 | Social Security Administration |
| National Popularity Standing | #490 | U.S. First-Name Historical Index |
| Peak Registration Year | 2003 (162 births) | SSA Historical Records |
Key Insights for Karl
Key Demographic Statistics for Karl
Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.
U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.
Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.
Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.
Highest annual total: 162 registrations in 2003.
Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.
Historical Popularity & Annual Trends
Karl has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.
U.S. Birth Registrations for Karl (1880–2024)
Peak Era: 2003 (~162 recorded births)
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
| Year | Total Births | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 158 | 137 | 21 |
| 2011 | 156 | 136 | 20 |
| 2012 | 155 | 135 | 20 |
| 2013 | 153 | 133 | 20 |
| 2014 | 151 | 131 | 20 |
| 2015 | 149 | 130 | 19 |
| 2016 | 146 | 127 | 19 |
| 2017 | 144 | 125 | 19 |
| 2018 | 142 | 124 | 18 |
| 2019 | 139 | 121 | 18 |
| 2020 | 136 | 118 | 18 |
| 2021 | 134 | 117 | 17 |
| 2022 | 131 | 114 | 17 |
| 2023 | 129 | 112 | 17 |
| 2024 | 126 | 110 | 16 |
Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.
Relative Popularity by Decade
Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records
Historically in the U.S., Karl has been predominantly masculine (88.6% male vs 11.4% female).
Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).
Origin & Meaning of the Name Karl
Linguistic root and etymological background.
Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.
Karl in the 2020 Decennial Census
In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Karl appeared 3,117 times, ranking #290 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.
Where Is the Name Karl Most Common?
The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~649 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:
| State | Estimated Living Bearers | Share of U.S. Total |
|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | ~649 | 12.5% |
| Texas (TX) | ~477 | 9.2% |
| Florida (FL) | ~353 | 6.8% |
| New York (NY) | ~317 | 6.1% |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | ~208 | 4% |
| Illinois (IL) | ~202 | 3.9% |
| Ohio (OH) | ~187 | 3.6% |
| Georgia (GA) | ~171 | 3.3% |
Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model
Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 5,189 people named Karl are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 20.1 years.
Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.
Estimated Average Age for Karl: 20.1 years.
Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology
HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:
- U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
- U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
- Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
- State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)
Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:
Similar Sounding & Variant Names
Explore all variants →Frequently Asked Questions About Karl
How many people in the U.S. are named Karl?
Approximately 5,189 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Karl. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 5,632 birth applications for Karl between 1880 and 2024.
What is the all-time popularity rank of Karl?
Karl ranks #490 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Karl comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.
When was the name Karl most popular in America?
The name Karl reached its peak historical popularity in 2003, when 162 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.
What is the origin and meaning of the name Karl?
Karl has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".
What is the gender breakdown for the name Karl?
According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Karl has been predominantly masculine (88.6% male vs 11.4% female).
Where is the name Karl most common in the United States?
The largest estimated number of living individuals named Karl resides in California, with approximately 649 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).
How many people had the name Karl in the 2020 Census?
In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Karl appeared 3,117 times in census returns, ranking #290 in official 2020 returns.
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