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Home › Baby Names Directory › Karol

Karol

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAIR-əl /ˈkɛr.əl/High

Meaning: K-spelling of Carol — feminine of Charles, 'free man/woman' — also evoking the joyful Christmas carol; in Polish, a male formMedium

In 30 seconds: A carol with a K: Karol carries Carol's double gift — 'free woman' by way of Charles, and the joyful song of Christmas. (In Poland it's the male Charles — Pope John Paul II's birth name.) Retro and warm.
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Origin MediumGermanic, English
MeaningK-spelling of Carol — feminine of Charles, 'free man/woman' — also evoking the joyful Christmas carol; in Polish, a male form
U.S. rank (2025)#3426 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births45 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2005
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,693

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200519182025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Karol is a K-spelling of Carol — the feminine of Charles, Germanic karl, 'free man' — doubled with the English word for a joyful hymn. In Polish and Slovak, Karol is the male Charles (Karol Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II); as an American girls' name it reads mid-century warm. Singer Karol G keeps the spelling current.

It registers thinly for girls today. Rare, free-and-joyful at the root, and retro.

Did you know? Karol was the birth name of Pope John Paul II — Karol Wojtyła — the Polish Charles; on American girls it reads as a K-bright Carol, the Christmas song name.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name — Karol — etymology

Variations

CarolCaroleKarole

Nicknames

Kari

Famous Bearers

  • ★Karol G (1991–present)
    Colombian reggaeton superstar, born Carolina Giraldo Navarro.

If you like Karol…

Carol— the standard spelling of the same name
Karla— a fellow K- Charles feminine
Caroline— the elaborated classic behind the family
Brystol— shares Karol's English roots
Katy— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Karol

By themevintagemodern-spellinggermanic
By meaningJoyFreedom

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Karol mean?

Karol is a K-spelling of Carol, the feminine of Charles, 'free man/woman'; in Polish it's a male form of Charles.

How do you pronounce Karol?

It's said KAIR-əl /ˈkɛr.əl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Karol a boy or girl name?

Karol is a girl's name in American use; in Poland it's a boys' name.

How popular is Karol?

Karol is a rare name in the U.S.

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