US Popularity Rank: 3584

Origin: German

Meaning: free man

Karl is a boy’s name of German origin. Karl means “free man” and is a great name for any baby who is ready to grow and explore the world around them. Karl is a popular name throughout Europe, including Germany, Sweden, and Norway. History fanatics amongst you will be aware that Karl was the name of several emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria. Other famous bearers of the name Karl include German revolutionary Karl Marx and television personality Karl Pilkington, who is most well-known for his friendship with Ricky Gervais and the An Idiot Abroad series.