UK boy's name
Karlos
A masculine given name derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karlos is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Karlos popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 9 births.
This profile covers 74 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 74 living people in the UK are called Karlos. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karlos ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 9 boys were registered as Karlos.
- • About 74 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karlos as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2015
9 births
Estimated living
74
2026
Meaning
What does Karlos mean?
The name Karlos originates from the Germanic word "karl," meaning "free man" or "man." It first appeared in the 8th century and is a variant spelling of the name Charles, which was derived from the Old Germanic name Karloz.
In the Middle Ages, the name Karlos gained widespread popularity across Europe, particularly in Spain and France. It was often associated with nobility and royalty, as several prominent figures bore this name. One of the earliest recorded examples is Charlemagne, also known as Karlos the Great (742-814), the King of the Franks and the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Another notable figure was Karlos V (1500-1558), the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, who ruled over a vast empire spanning Europe and the Americas. His reign marked a significant period in European history, and he played a crucial role in shaping the political and cultural landscape of the time.
Karlos I (1887-1922), the last Emperor of Austria-Hungary and King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, was another prominent historical figure who bore this name. His reign witnessed the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I.
In the realm of literature, Karlos Fuentes (1928-2012), a Mexican novelist and essayist, was a celebrated figure. He won numerous literary awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987, and is renowned for his works that explored the complexities of Mexican identity and history.
Another notable bearer of the name was Karlos Gardel (1890-1935), an Argentine singer, songwriter, and actor who was instrumental in popularizing the tango music genre worldwide. He is considered one of the most influential figures in Latin American music and culture.
These are just a few examples of the historical significance and cultural impact associated with the name Karlos. Throughout the centuries, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including royalty, writers, artists, and musicians, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Karlos over time
The chart below shows babies named Karlos registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Karlos, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karlos by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karlos was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3748 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3976 | 35 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3930 | 19 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2922 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Karlos
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Karlos: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karlos in the UK right now?
In 2024, Karlos was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Karlos most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 9 babies registered as Karlos in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karlos?
A masculine given name derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man".
How many people are called Karlos in the UK?
A total of 74 babies have been registered as Karlos across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.