Given name & surname
Karel
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”·“a free man”
Karel is a variant of Karol. In English use, Karol carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.” Karel is a variant of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Karel is a variant of Karol. In English use, Karol carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.” Karel is a variant of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Karel is a variant of Karl. An origin associated with Karl is German.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,814
- 606 boys · 1,208 girls
- Most popular year
- 1939
- 76 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #12,966 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +59%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 12,966 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 58.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,488 as a first name in 2020; 880 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karel’s family of names
In German usage, Karel has a diminutive in Kai. Karel shares a linguistic root with Charles. In Czech usage, Karel has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Carlos.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Karel has relatives in 25 languages.
28 related names in 25 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kaidiminutive · German
- Karlvariant · German, Swedish
- Karlivariant · Slovene
- Karolvariant · Polish, Slovak
- Karelllikely variant
- Kar.short form · Czech
- Karlíčekdiminutive · Czech
- Kájadiminutive · Czech
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 23
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Karel
- Karel ČapekCzech writer (1890–1938)
- Karel PoborskýCzech footballerborn 1972
- Karel GottCzech singer and actor (1939–2019)
- Karel AppelDutch painter, sculptor, and poet (1921-2006)
- Karel SchwarzenbergCzech politician, minister of foreign affairs and vice prime minister (1937–2023)
- Karel van ManderFlemish painter, poet and art historian (1548–1606)
- Karel Hynek MáchaCzech poet, traveller, playwright, lawyer and writer (1810–1836)
- Karel Havlíček BorovskýCzech journalist and writer (1821–1856)
- Karel ReiszCzech-born British director, producer, film theorist, theatre director (1926-2002)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Karel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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