Karlis
A boy's name of Latvian origin with 72 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Karlis sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1950, peaking in 1987, with 72 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Karlis is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Karlis is a boy's baby name of Latvian origin, the Latvian form of Charles, from the Old High German Karl meaning 'free man' or 'man.' It is one of the most common masculine names in Latvia, borne by multiple Latvian cultural and athletic figures.
Karlis carries the strong, clean quality of Scandinavian and Baltic naming traditions. For families with Latvian heritage or parents drawn to Northern European names with genuine cultural roots, Karlis offers a familiar sound — it rhymes with Carlos — in a form that is distinctly and beautifully Latvian.
EtymologyShow more
Though Karlis dates back to 1950 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Latvian classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 72 recorded births, Karlis has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Karlis has 12+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1950.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 40 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 22 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | — |
The Story of Karlis
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1987, Karlis is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Karlis are most likely born between 1977 and 1997.
How rare is Karlis?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Karlis is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1950, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1980s with 40 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Karlis by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(12 years, 1950–2007)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 | #13401 |
| 1988 | 5 | #7903 |
| 1987 | 9 | #4757 |
| 1985 | 8 | #4930 |
| 1983 | 5 | #6780 |
| 1981 | 6 | #5879 |
| 1980 | 7 | #5231 |
| 1967 | 6 | #3770 |
| 1966 | 6 | #3725 |
| 1964 | 5 | #4334 |
| 1961 | 5 | #4366 |
| 1950 | 5 | #3951 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlis a boy's or girl's name?
When was Karlis most popular?
How popular is the name Karlis?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1950–2007