The baby name Karel is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Czech: /ˈkarɛl/ (KAH-rel); Dutch: /ˈkaːrəl/ (KAH-rel); English approx: /ˈkærəl/ or /ˈkɑːrəl/ (KAIR-əl / KAH-rəl).
The baby name Karel is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Czech: /ˈkarɛl/ (KAH-rel); Dutch: /ˈkaːrəl/ (KAH-rel); English approx: /ˈkærəl/ or /ˈkɑːrəl/ (KAIR-əl / KAH-rəl).
Karel is in Origin.
Karel is the Czech and Dutch form of a pan‑European name ultimately from Proto‑Germanic *karlaz, via Old High German Karl and Latin Carolus, meaning “man” or “free man.” It corresponds to English Charles and German Karl. Related forms include Carl, Carlo, Carlos, Carol (Romanian), Karol (Polish and Slovak), Karolis (Lithuanian), and Charles’s feminine counterparts Karla, Carla, and Karolina/Caroline. Diminutives and nicknames vary by language, such as Kája and Karlík in Czech and Kareltje in Dutch; Afrikaans also uses Karel.
In the Czech lands it has been borne since the medieval era and gained enduring prestige through Emperor and Bohemian king Karel IV. The name remains familiar across Central Europe, the Low Countries, and South Africa. Notable modern bearers include the writer Karel Čapek, who popularized the word “robot,” and Dutch painter Karel Appel. Karel signals solid, traditional strength with a cosmopolitan, cross‑lingual profile.
| Karel Poborský Karel Poborský is a former Czech footballer best known for his remarkable performance at the UEFA Euro 1996, where he scored a memorable lob goal against Portugal. He played for clubs like Manchester United and Lazio during his career. Poborský is also remembered for his distinctive long hair and dynamic playing style on the field. | Karel Gott Karel Gott was a hugely popular Czech singer, widely seen as the most successful male singer in Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. He was especially known for songs like "Lady Carneval," "Kávu si osladím," and "Být stále mlád," and he won the Český slavík award for best male singer 42 times. | Karel Svoboda Karel Svoboda may refer to multiple people, most notably the Czech composer known for popular film and television music. He is especially associated with themes and songs from works like Three Wishes for Cinderella and Maya the Bee. |
| Karel Kryl Karel Kryl was a Czechoslovak poet and singer-songwriter best known for his powerful protest songs criticizing both the Communist regime and later post-communist politics. He became especially famous for songs like "Bratříčku, zavírej vrátka," "Anděl," and "Morituri te salutant," whose poetic lyrics used rich metaphors, rhyme, and historical references. | Karel Nováček Karel Nováček is a retired Czech tennis player, best known for his success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He reached the semifinals of the US Open in 1994 and was a consistent presence in the top 10 ATP rankings during his career. | Karel Kachyňa Karel Kachyňa was a Czech film director and screenwriter best known for films like The Ear, Coach to Vienna, and Love Between the Raindrops. His career lasted more than fifty years, from the mid-20th century into the early 2000s. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #18 | 8,424 | 6,530 |
| NA | 0 | #30 | 4 | 2,537 | |
| EE | 0 | #34 | 4 | 1,051 | |
| MV | Girls | 0 | #35 | 1 | 2,021 |
| CZ | 0 | #38 | 462 | 3,154 | |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #38 | 8,731 | 10,162 |
| ID | 0 | #39 | 1 | 2,238 | |
| IR | 0 | #39 | 497 | 4,221 | |
| BI | Boys | 0 | #44 | 1 | 917 |
| CM | 0 | #55 | 2 | 2,592 | |
| AO | 0 | #77 | 1 | 2,729 | |
| BG | 0 | #82 | 1 | 1,799 | |
| EE | Boys | 0 | #83 | 44 | 2,087 |
| CN | 0 | #86 | 1 | 3,857 | |
| JM | 0 | #92 | 2 | 3,714 | |
| PH | 0 | #109 | 2 | 5,607 | |
| ID | Boys | 0 | #120 | 12 | 4,130 |
| OM | 0 | #121 | 1 | 6,215 | |
| PA | 0 | #133 | 6 | 3,797 | |
| MU | 0 | #137 | 1 | 3,613 | |
| BN | Boys | 0 | #139 | 1 | 6,332 |
| NL | Boys | 0 | #150 | 2,791 | 5,873 |
| BW | Boys | 0 | #152 | 3 | 4,685 |
| RS | Boys | 0 | #154 | 1 | 2,277 |
| HU | Boys | 0 | #174 | 1 | 3,954 |
| Belgium | Boys | 2016 | #185 | 24 | 409 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #185 | 51 | 6,830 |
| AE | 0 | #187 | 1 | 10,220 | |
| RU | 0 | #194 | 1 | 3,641 | |
| SI | Boys | 0 | #194 | 16 | 3,402 |
| DK | 0 | #206 | 1 | 5,198 | |
| PL | 0 | #212 | 1 | 2,600 | |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #215 | 6 | 4,970 |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| BG | Boys | 0 | #218 | 3 | 3,850 |
| PS | 0 | #226 | 1 | 5,692 | |
| MO | Boys | 0 | #234 | 1 | 5,842 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #237 | 1 | 7,146 |
| AO | Boys | 0 | #248 | 2 | 5,568 |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #249 | 1 | 6,293 |
| PT | 0 | #249 | 2 | 4,161 | |
| TW | Boys | 0 | #255 | 2 | 7,111 |
| HR | Boys | 0 | #259 | 1 | 3,997 |
| NG | 0 | #272 | 1 | 5,926 | |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #273 | 6 | 7,507 |
| AF | Boys | 0 | #274 | 1 | 3,535 |
| CZ | Girls | 0 | #278 | 65 | 5,378 |
| IL | 0 | #282 | 1 | 6,291 | |
| SG | 0 | #282 | 1 | 11,010 | |
| Canada | Girls | 2001 | #284 | 5 | 2,435 |
| NL | 0 | #287 | 105 | 2,481 | |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #289 | 1 | 8,139 |
| JM | Boys | 0 | #291 | 3 | 6,876 |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #303 | 1 | 7,909 |
| Canada | Boys | 2023 | #305 | 5 | 2,601 |
| SA | 0 | #312 | 1 | 10,560 | |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #326 | 6 | 9,639 |
| PE | 0 | #327 | 3 | 6,350 | |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #329 | 4 | 7,401 |
| KZ | Girls | 0 | #332 | 1 | 5,862 |
| PL | Boys | 0 | #333 | 8 | 6,459 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #342 | 2 | 15,378 |
| MY | 0 | #353 | 2 | 12,352 | |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #359 | 1 | 8,829 |
| MU | Boys | 0 | #366 | 4 | 8,477 |
| France | Boys | 2021 | #369 | 19 | 2,865 |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #381 | 1 | 7,951 |
| ZA | 0 | #388 | 60 | 14,421 | |
| YE | 0 | #398 | 1 | 8,639 | |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #402 | 7 | 11,440 |
| BO | 0 | #408 | 1 | 6,868 | |
| Finland | Boys | 0 | #408 | 20 | 2,041 |
| UY | Boys | 0 | #408 | 6 | 5,922 |
| France | Girls | 2011 | #413 | 6 | 3,153 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #423 | 7 | 13,098 |
| Austria | Boys | 0 | #424 | 19 | 2,180 |
| CL | 0 | #432 | 3 | 6,867 | |
| MX | 0 | #439 | 7 | 8,339 | |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #446 | 36 | 9,861 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #467 | 64 | 8,334 |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #483 | 1 | 7,628 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #493 | 48 | 11,671 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #495 | 5 | 7,625 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #502 | 4 | 9,305 |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #504 | 7 | 10,188 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #505 | 46 | 12,054 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #505 | 1,049 | 25,619 |
| CO | 0 | #507 | 4 | 7,768 | |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #525 | 1 | 11,303 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #525 | 2 | 12,621 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #534 | 3 | 6,731 |
| GT | Girls | 0 | #539 | 3 | 7,500 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #546 | 2 | 10,981 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #554 | 4 | 12,905 |
| LY | 0 | #558 | 2 | 12,703 | |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #558 | 4 | 10,655 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #559 | 3 | 19,177 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #566 | 8 | 11,342 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #592 | 20 | 9,488 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #596 | 2 | 20,968 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #617 | 6 | 9,244 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #621 | 62 | 3,552 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #621 | 5 | 10,983 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #628 | 3 | 8,289 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #630 | 3 | 18,916 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #639 | 27 | 13,390 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #641 | 5 | 11,648 |
| LB | 0 | #645 | 14 | 13,263 | |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #649 | 2 | 16,104 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #654 | 1 | 13,121 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #693 | 5 | 13,071 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #732 | 8 | 17,960 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #743 | 1 | 18,093 |
| SY | 0 | #764 | 4 | 11,684 | |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #777 | 9 | 12,213 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #824 | 3 | 15,093 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #840 | 39 | 14,506 |
| TN | 0 | #862 | 4 | 13,765 | |
| Germany | Boys | 0 | #863 | 90 | 5,697 |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #875 | 56 | 5,610 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #876 | 68 | 14,861 |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #885 | 8 | 7,044 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #909 | 12 | 15,656 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #910 | 6 | 14,098 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #911 | 45 | 5,933 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #916 | 3 | 17,948 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #923 | 3 | 15,035 |
| United States | Girls | 2009 | #925 | 9 | 9,986 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #930 | 53 | 16,355 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #999 | 3 | 16,906 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 5 | 25,931 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,039 | 1 | 16,750 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,050 | 29 | 16,140 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,071 | 2 | 24,821 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,083 | 10 | 22,615 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,090 | 22 | 25,439 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,104 | 80 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,121 | 21 | 25,928 |
| MA | 0 | #1,193 | 7 | 20,986 | |
| TR | 0 | #1,195 | 17 | 19,440 | |
| DZ | 0 | #1,226 | 9 | 20,130 | |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,432 | 40 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,684 | 8 | 28,008 |
Karel is popular in 76 countries — most recent births per country:
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