Karlis

Karlis (Latvian: Kārlis) is the male variant of the name Karl in Latvia. The translation of the name is 'the free man', 'the free one', or 'the beloved'.

What does the name Karlis mean?

The name Karlis (Kārlis) is a Latvian derivative of Karl. Its direct translation is 'the free man', 'the free one', and 'the beloved'. The name originally comes from Old High German and is derived from the element karal or karlaz, which means 'the man' or 'the husband'. Other variants include Karolos, Karolus, Karoly, and Karolis. The name Karl became particularly famous through Charlemagne, who used it in the Latin form Karolus, leading to its worldwide spread. However, in the German-speaking world, it only gained significant popularity in the 19th century.

Where does the name Karlis come from?

The name Karlis has its roots in Old High German and means 'the free man' or 'the beloved'.

How do you pronounce Karlis?

The pronunciation of Karlis is clear and structured in two syllables. It is pronounced as 'Kar-lis' [ˈkaʁlɪs], with the first syllable starting with an open A sound that conveys a certain presence. The rolled or guttural R gives depth to the first syllable. The bright part '-lis' ends with a hissing sound, which adds a fine sharpness to the name. This makes Karlis grounded yet lively – structured, clear, and distinctive.

When is the name day of Karlis?

The name days for Karlis are celebrated on January 6, January 28, November 4, and November 18.

Popularity

In Germany, Karlis is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840 on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2017 at rank 2,639. Over the last ten years, the name has been given about 30 times, placing it at 4,208 in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 5,020.

Famous people

• Kārlis Irbītis (Latvian aircraft designer)
• Kārlis Šadurskis (Latvian politician)
• Kārlis Šteins (Latvian astronomer)