The first name Karel

In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Karel, the 12,966th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1939, when 69 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Karel Čapek
  Czech writer (1890–1938)
• Karel Poborský
  Czech footballer, born 1972
• Karel Gott
  Czech singer and actor (1939–2019)
• Karel Appel
  Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet (1921-2006)
• Karel Schwarzenberg
  Czech politician, minister of foreign affairs and vice prime minister (1937–2023)
• Karel van Mander the Elder
  Flemish painter, poet and art historian (1548–1606)
• Karel Hynek Mácha
  Czech poet, traveller, playwright, lawyer and writer (1810–1836)
• Karel Reisz
  Czech-born British director, producer, film theorist, theatre director (1926-2002)
• Karel Jaromír Erben
  Czech archivist, poet, ethnographer, librettist, publicist, lawyer, translator and writer , 1811–1870
• Karel Zeman
  Czech film director, artist and animator (1910–1989)
• Karel Brückner
  Czech footballer, born 1939
• Karel De Gucht
  Belgian politician, born 1954

How popular is the name Karel?

In 2023, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Karel, ranking 4,991st. Its peak was 2014, with 6 births.

Is Karel a boy's or a girl's name?

Both. Of the 1,814 US babies named Karel since 1880, 67% were girls and 33% boys.

When was Karel most popular?

1939 in the United States, when 69 babies were named Karel, its highest rank at 842nd.