Karl

Karl is a Germanic given name derived from the Old High German word karl, meaning "free man" or "man of the people," sharing its root with the Old English ceorl. The name gained enormous historical prestige through the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, whose Latin name Carolus Magnus means "Karl the Great," and it subsequently spread throughout Europe as a royal and noble name. It remains common across German-speaking countries and Scandinavia, while its many cognates and variants include Charles, Carlo, Carlos, Carl, and Carol.