Karl Karim

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Karl Karim — free man
104K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Karl Karim is a name combining Germanic origins, bringing together "free man" (Karl) with "generous" (Karim). The first name Karl is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. 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 Emperor Charlemagne. It is popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and was popularized by German-speaking descendants in the United States. The surname Karim: Kareem (alternatively spelled Karim, Kerim or Karem) (Arabic: کریم) is a given name and surname of Arabic origin that means "generous", "noble", "honourable". It is also one of the Names of God. Karim Abdel Aziz (born 1975), Egyptian actor Karim Abdul-Jabbar (later known as Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar) (born 1974), American football player Prince Karim Aga Khan (1936–2025), Imām of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims Karim Valiyev (born 1961), Azerbaijani General Karim Ansarifard (born 1990), Iranian football player Karim Azizou (born 1985), Moroccan footballer Karim Bagheri (born 1974), Iranian football. Karl is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 104K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Karl reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Karl

Meaning: free man

Germanic

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 Emperor Charlemagne. It is popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and was popularized by German-speaking descendants in the United States.

Surname: Karim

Meaning: generous

Vietnamese

Kareem (alternatively spelled Karim, Kerim or Karem) (Arabic: کریم) is a given name and surname of Arabic origin that means "generous", "noble", "honourable". It is also one of the Names of God. Karim Abdel Aziz (born 1975), Egyptian actor Karim Abdul-Jabbar (later known as Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar) (born 1974), American football player Prince Karim Aga Khan (1936–2025), Imām of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims Karim Valiyev (born 1961), Azerbaijani General Karim Ansarifard (born 1990), Iranian football player Karim Azizou (born 1985), Moroccan footballer Karim Bagheri (born 1974), Iranian football.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Karl is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 28%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Karl by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Karl Karim

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Karl Karim:

4
Expression Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

11
Soul Urge Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

11
Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Karl?
The first name Karl originates from Germanic. 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 Emperor Charlemagne. It is popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and was popularized by German-speaking descendants in the United States.
When was Karl most popular?
The name Karl reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Karim?
The surname Karim originates from Vietnamese. Kareem (alternatively spelled Karim, Kerim or Karem) (Arabic: کریم) is a given name and surname of Arabic origin that means "generous", "noble", "honourable". It is also one of the Names of God. Karim Abdel Aziz (born 1975), Egyptian actor Karim Abdul-Jabbar (later known as Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar) (born 1974), American football player Prince Karim Aga Khan (1936–2025), Imām of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims Karim Valiyev (born 1961), Azerbaijani General Karim Ansarifard (born 1990), Iranian football player Karim Azizou (born 1985), Moroccan footballer Karim Bagheri (born 1974), Iranian football.
What are the origins of the name Karl Karim?
The name Karl Karim combines two different traditions: the first name Karl has Germanic roots, while the surname Karim originates from Vietnamese.
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