Unisex name · since 1932
Karel
Since 1932, U.S. Social Security records show 1,208 babies named Karel, peaking in 1939. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,208
- total births
- 1932–2009
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
Karel sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,208 recorded since 1932.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Karel has been recorded 1,208 times among girls since 1932, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1932 to 2009.
- 1,208 total births
- 1932–2009 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
Karel's 1,208 recorded births place it above 91% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
10 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by California.
Karel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Karel splits its recorded history at 1963: 24% of all births land in the more recent half, 76% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1932 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1939 peak of 69 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Karel popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1932–2009
- Peak year (1939)
- 69
- Annual births at peak, across 78 years of records
Karel popularity over time - boys
606 total births recorded since 1916 (Karel as boys' name)
Karel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Karel's strongest decade.
361 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Karel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 143
1930s
143 births
- 1940s
1940s
361 births
- 1950s
1950s
331 births
- 1960s
1960s
194 births
- 1970s 41
1970s
41 births
- 1980s 41
1980s
41 births
- 1990s 57
1990s
57 births
- 2000s 40
2000s
40 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 361 births (30% of all-time use).
How Karel compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Karel's total volume
Karel vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Karel by state
Where Karel concentrates geographically, total births since 1932
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 39 | 3.2% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 32 | 2.6% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 16 | 1.3% |
| #4 | Kansas | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Oklahoma | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #6 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Nebraska | | 5 | 0.4% |
39 of 1,208 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Karel appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Karel's data
- Karel's decade-level peak was the 1940s (361 total births); usage has since declined to 40 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Karels (39 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Karel
Nearby Names Like Karel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Karel
Compare Karel side by side: Karel vs Karen Karel vs Kara Karel vs Karla
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1932–2009 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac. "Karel: Baby Name Since 1932 - 1,208 Births, Peak 1939." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/karel. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Karel draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.