Namesakes
Karl Marx
(m) 1818-1883 
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Karl I the Great
(m) 742-814
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors 800-814
Carl Friedrich Gauss
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1777-1855
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Carlos I
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1500-1558
Spanish Kings and Queens 1516-1556
Austrian Dukes and Emperors (Karl I) 1519-1521
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Karl V) 1519-1556
Carl Benz
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1844-1929
Notable Businesspeople
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Karl Ferdinand Braun
(m) 1850-1918
Nobel Prize Winners 1909 (physics)
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Willy Brandt
(middle name Karl) (m) 1913-1992
German Chancellors and Presidents 1969-1974 (chancellor)
Nobel Prize Winners 1971 (peace)
Karl II the Bald
(m) 823-877
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors 875-877
Rainer Maria Rilke
(middle name Karl) (m) 1875-1926
Notable Writers
Karel I
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1316-1378
Bohemian Kings 1346-1378
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Karl IV) 1346-1378
Rudolf Diesel
(middle name Karl) (m) 1858-1913
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Ferenc József I
(middle name Karl) (m) 1830-1916
Hungarian Kings and Queens 1848-1916
Bohemian Kings (František Josef I) 1848-1916
Austrian Dukes and Emperors (Franz Joseph I) 1848-1916
Karl Landsteiner
(m) 1868-1943
Nobel Prize Winners 1930 (medicine)
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Karl Popper
(m) 1902-1994
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Ferenc
(middle name Karl) (m) 1768-1835
Hungarian Kings and Queens 1792-1835
Bohemian Kings (František) 1792-1835
Austrian Dukes and Emperors (Franz I) 1792-1835
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Franz II) 1792-1806
Karl Adolph Gjellerup
(m) 1857-1919
Nobel Prize Winners 1917 (literature)
Notable Writers
Charles the Fat
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 839-888
Frankish and French Kings 884-887
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Karl III the Fat) 876-887
Karl XII
(m) 1682-1718
Swedish Kings and Queens 1697-1718
Karel II
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1685-1740
Bohemian Kings 1711-1740
Austrian Dukes and Emperors (Karl II) 1711-1740
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Karl VI) 1711-1740
Hungarian Kings and Queens (Károly III) 1711-1740
Karl Dönitz
(m) 1891-1980
Notable Military Figures
Karl III Johan
(m) 1763-1844
Norwegian Kings and Queens 1818-1844
Swedish Kings and Queens (Karl XIV Johan) 1818-1844
Carl XVI Gustaf
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1946-
Swedish Kings and Queens 1973-
Karl IX
(m) 1550-1611
Swedish Kings and Queens 1604-1611
Ferdinand I
(middle name Karl) (m) 1793-1875
Austrian Dukes and Emperors 1835-1848
Bohemian Kings (Ferdinand V) 1835-1848
Hungarian Kings and Queens (Ferdinánd V) 1835-1848
Richard von Weizsäcker
(middle name Karl) (m) 1920-2015
German Chancellors and Presidents 1984-1994 (president)
Friedrich III
(middle name Karl) (m) 1831-1888
Other Royalty 1888 German Empire; Prussia (emperor/king)
Karel Albrecht
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1697-1745
Bohemian Kings 1741-1743
German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors (Karl VII Albrecht) 1742-1745
Karel III
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1887-1922
Bohemian Kings 1916-1918
Austrian Dukes and Emperors (Karl I) 1916-1918
Saints (Karl of Austria)
Hungarian Kings and Queens (Károly IV) 1916-1918
Karl Barth
(m) 1886-1968
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Karl Ziegler
(m) 1898-1973
Nobel Prize Winners 1963 (chemistry)
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Karl Lagerfeld
(m) 1933-2019
Notable Artists
Hjalmar Branting
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1860-1925
Nobel Prize Winners 1921 (peace)
Swedish Prime Ministers 1920; 1921-1923; 1924-1925
Karl X Gustav
(m) 1622-1660
Swedish Kings and Queens 1654-1660
Karl IV
(m) 1826-1872
Norwegian Kings and Queens 1859-1872
Swedish Kings and Queens (Karl XV) 1859-1872
Heinrich Lübke
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1894-1972
German Chancellors and Presidents 1959-1969 (president)
Karl Renner
(m) 1870-1950
Austrian Chancellors and Presidents 1918-1920; 1945; 1945-1950 (chancellor/president)
K. Alex Müller
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1927-2023
Nobel Prize Winners 1987 (physics)
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Karl von Frisch
(m) 1886-1982
Nobel Prize Winners 1973 (medicine)
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Hans von Euler-Chelpin
(middle name Karl) (m) 1873-1964
Nobel Prize Winners 1929 (chemistry)
Karl XI
(m) 1655-1697
Swedish Kings and Queens 1660-1697
Karl II
(m) 1748-1818
Norwegian Kings and Queens 1814-1818
Swedish Kings and Queens (Karl XIII) 1809-1818
Karl Carstens
(m) 1914-1992
German Chancellors and Presidents 1979-1984 (president)
Carol I of Romania
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1839-1914
Other Royalty 1881-1914 Romania (king)
Karl Barry Sharpless
(m) 1941-
Nobel Prize Winners 2001; 2022 (chemistry)
Karl I
(m) 1409-1470
Norwegian Kings and Queens 1449-1450
Swedish Kings and Queens (Karl II (or VIII)) 1448-1457; 1464-1465; 1467-1470
Karl May
(m) 1842-1912
Notable Writers
Adolf Anderssen
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1818-1879
Notable Athletes (chess)
Carl Ritter
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1779-1859
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Bernhard von Bülow
(middle name Karl) (m) 1849-1929
German Chancellors and Presidents 1900-1909 (chancellor)
Karl Malden
(m) 1912-2009
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Oscar Award Winners 1952 A Streetcar Named Desire (actor)
Karl Drais
(m) 1785-1851
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Adolf Loos
(middle name Karl) (m) 1870-1933
Notable Artists
Joris-Karl Huysmans
(m) 1848-1907
Notable Writers
Joseph Wirth
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1879-1956
German Chancellors and Presidents 1921-1922 (chancellor)
Rudolf of Austria
(middle name Karl) (m) 1858-1889
Other Royalty 1858-1889 Austria-Hungary (prince)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
(m) 1955-
Notable Athletes (soccer)
Karl Nehammer
(m) 1972-
Austrian Chancellors and Presidents 2021-2025 (chancellor)
Karl Malone
(m) 1963-
Hall-of-Famers 2010 (basketball)
Most Valuable Players 1997; 1999 basketball
Notable Athletes (basketball)
Olympic Medalists 1992; 1996 basketball (gold)
Karl Urban
(m) 1972-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
(middle name Karl) (m) 1817-1905
Other Royalty 1890-1905 Luxembourg (grand duke)
Hans Asperger
(middle name Karl) (m) 1906-1980
Notable Scientists and Inventors
Karl I (or VII)
(m) 1130-1167
Swedish Kings and Queens 1161-1167
Karl Ludwig of Austria
(m) 1833-1896
Other Royalty 1833-1896 Austria-Hungary (archduke)
Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
(middle name Karl) (m) 1911-2004
Other Royalty 1948-1980 Netherlands (prince consort)
Franz Karl of Austria
(m) 1802-1878
Other Royalty 1802-1878 Austria-Hungary (archduke)
Karl Seitz
(m) 1869-1950
Austrian Chancellors and Presidents 1919-1920 (president)
Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein
(middle name Karl) (m) 1906-1989
Other Royalty 1938-1989 Liechtenstein (prince)
Gert Fröbe
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1913-1988
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Adolf von Harnack
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1851-1930
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein
(middle name Karl) (m) 1853-1938
Other Royalty 1929-1938 Liechtenstein (prince)
Friedrich Karl of Prussia
(m) 1828-1885
Other Royalty 1828-1885 Prussia (prince)
Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein
(m) 1569-1627
Other Royalty 1608-1627 Liechtenstein (prince)
Ulrich Salchow
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1877-1949
Olympic Medalists 1908 figure skating (gold)
Karl-August Fagerholm
(m) 1901-1984
Finnish Presidents and Prime Ministers 1948-1950; 1956-1957; 1958-1959 (prime minister)
Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein
(m) 1611-1684
Other Royalty 1627-1684 Liechtenstein (prince)
Karlheinz Böhm
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1928-2014
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Kaarel Eenpalu
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1888-1942
Estonian Presidents and Prime Ministers 1932; 1938-1939 (state elder/prime minister)
Karl Staaff
(m) 1860-1915
Swedish Prime Ministers 1905-1906; 1911-1914
Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein
(m) 1724-1748
Other Royalty 1732-1748 Liechtenstein (prince)
Diedrich Bader
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1966-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Karl Schäfer
(m) 1909-1976
Notable Athletes (skating)
Olympic Medalists 1932 figure skating (gold)
Karl Verner
(m) 1846-1896
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Wilhelm of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1783-1851
Other Royalty 1783-1851 Prussia (prince)
Eitel Friedrich of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1883-1942
Other Royalty 1883-1942 Prussia (prince)
Karl Buresch
(m) 1878-1936
Austrian Chancellors and Presidents 1931-1932 (chancellor)
Oskar of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1888-1958
Other Royalty 1888-1958 Prussia (prince)
Ludwig of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1773-1796
Other Royalty 1773-1796 Prussia (prince)
Gerhard Stöck
(middle name Karl) (m) 1911-1985
Olympic Medalists 1936 javelin throw; shot put (gold/bronze)
Karl Hein
(m) 1908-1982
Olympic Medalists 1936 hammer throw (gold)
Martin Lauer
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1937-2019
Olympic Medalists 1960 4x100 m relay (gold)
Ferdinand Karl of Austria
(m) 1868-1915
Other Royalty 1868-1911 Austria-Hungary (archduke)
Friedrich Leopold of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1865-1931
Other Royalty 1865-1931 Prussia (prince)
Hugo Wieslander
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1889-1976
Olympic Medalists 1912 decathlon (gold)
Karl Dane
(m) 1886-1934
Notable Actors and Entertainers (comedian/actor)
Friedrich Karl of Prussia
(m) 1893-1917
Other Royalty 1893-1917 Prussia (prince)
Rune Larsson
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1924-2016
Olympic Medalists 1948 400 m hurdles; 4x400 m relay (bronze)
Karl Bartos
(m) 1952-
Notable Musicians
P. K. Subban
(middle name Karl) (m) 1989-
Notable Athletes (ice hockey)
Olympic Medalists 2014 ice hockey (gold)
Gustav Knuth
(middle name Karl) (m) 1901-1987
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Karl-Friedrich Haas
(m) 1931-2021
Olympic Medalists 1952; 1956 4x400 m relay; 400 m (bronze/silver)
Karl Warner
(m) 1908-1995
Olympic Medalists 1932 4x400 m relay (gold)
Emil Jönsson
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1985-
Olympic Medalists 2014 cross-country skiing (bronze)
Karl Knies
(m) 1821-1898
Notable Philosophers and Thinkers
Karl Schenk
(m) 1823-1895
Swiss Presidents 1865; 1871; 1874; 1878; 1885; 1893
Karl Malmström
(m) 1875-1938
Olympic Medalists 1908 diving - platform (silver)
Sigismund of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1896-1978
Other Royalty 1896-1978 Prussia (prince)
Freddie Prinze
(middle name Karl) (m) 1954-1977
Notable Actors and Entertainers (comedian/actor)
Heinrich of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1747-1767
Other Royalty 1747-1767 Prussia (prince)
Adolf Deucher
(middle name Karl) (m) 1831-1912
Swiss Presidents 1886; 1897; 1903; 1909
Karl Ruberl
(m) 1880-1966
Olympic Medalists 1900 swimming - 200 m backstroke; swimming - 200 m freestyle (silver/bronze)
Erik Svensson
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1903-1986
Olympic Medalists 1932 triple jump (silver)
Karl Leisner
(m) 1915-1945
Saints
Karl Schulze
(m) 1988-
Olympic Medalists 2012 rowing (gold)
Robbie Grabarz
(middle name Karl) (m) 1987-
Olympic Medalists 2012 high jump (bronze)
Bror Fock
(middle name Karl) (m) 1888-1964
Olympic Medalists 1912 3000 m team (silver)
Karl Kobelt
(m) 1891-1968
Swiss Presidents 1946; 1952
Karl Scheurer
(m) 1872-1929
Swiss Presidents 1923
Heinrich of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1781-1846
Other Royalty 1781-1846 Prussia (prince)
Hubertus of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1909-1950
Other Royalty 1909-1950 Prussia (prince)
Karl Franz of Prussia
(m) 1916-1975
Other Royalty 1916-1975 Prussia (prince)
Karl Storch
(m) 1913-1992
Olympic Medalists 1952 hammer throw (silver)
Sten Pettersson
(middle name Karl) (m) 1902-1984
Olympic Medalists 1924 110 m hurdles (bronze)
Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1880-1925
Other Royalty 1880-1925 Prussia (prince)
Karl Luther
(m) 1885-1962
Olympic Medalists 1912 4x100 m relay (silver)
Stephen Rerych
(middle name Karl) (m) 1946-
Olympic Medalists 1968 swimming - 4x100 m freestyle relay; swimming - 4x200 m freestyle relay (gold)
Torsten Kumfeldt
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1886-1966
Olympic Medalists 1908; 1912; 1920 water polo (silver/bronze)
Ronnie Sundin
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1970-
Olympic Medalists 2006 ice hockey (gold)
Alexander Ferdinand of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1912-1985
Other Royalty 1912-1985 Prussia (prince)
Karl Bähre
(m) 1899-1960
Olympic Medalists 1928 water polo (gold)
Joachim Albrecht of Prussia
(middle name Karl) (m) 1876-1939
Other Royalty 1876-1939 Prussia (prince)
Carl Adolph von Plessen
(a.k.a. Karl) (m) 1678-1758
Notable Politicians and Statespeople
Alasdair Strokosch
(middle name Karl) (m) 1983-
Notable Athletes (rugby)
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 2010 (hurricane)
Karl Kani
(m) 1968-
Notable Artists
Karl Mayer
(m)
Fictional Characters from Television 2004 Desperate Housewives
Karl Shiels
(m) 1972-2019
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 2004 (hurricane)
Karl Kennedy
(m)
Fictional Characters from Television 1985 Neighbours
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 1980 (hurricane)
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 1998 (hurricane)
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 2016 (storm)
Karl Ludwig of Liechtenstein
(m) 2016-
Other Royalty 2016- Liechtenstein (prince)
Karl
(m)
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms 2022 (storm)