UK boy's name
Kartel
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "cartridge" or "ammunition".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kartel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kartel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 6 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2004 to 2023. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Kartel. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kartel ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 6 boys were registered as Kartel.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kartel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
6 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Kartel mean?
The name Kartel is believed to have its origins in the Caribbean region, specifically in Jamaica. It is thought to be derived from the Jamaican Patois word "kartel," which means a criminal organization or gang involved in illegal activities, particularly drug trafficking.
The term "cartel" itself has its roots in the Spanish word "cartel," which originally referred to a written challenge or defiance. Over time, it came to be associated with organized groups engaged in illegal activities, particularly in the context of drug cartels in Latin America and the Caribbean.
While the name Kartel may have been inspired by this criminal connotation, its use as a given name is relatively modern and does not appear to have any direct historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures.
One of the earliest and most notable individuals to bear the name Kartel is the Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist Adidja Palmer, better known by his stage name Vybz Kartel (born January 7, 1976). He is considered one of the most influential and controversial figures in Jamaican dancehall music, known for his distinctive lyrical style and persona.
Another individual with the name Kartel is the American rapper and record producer Kashmir Kartel (born August 12, 1992). He is known for his collaborations with various artists in the hip-hop and rap genres.
In the world of sports, there is a South African cricketer named Kartel Taljard (born December 23, 1994), who plays for the Titans cricket team in domestic South African cricket.
A notable historical figure with a similar name is Cartel Morbihan (1835-1892), a French general and military strategist who served in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
Lastly, Kartel Grayson (1901-1986) was an American author and playwright active in the mid-20th century, known for his works exploring themes of social justice and civil rights.
It is important to note that while the name Kartel may have originated from a criminal context, its use as a given name does not necessarily carry the same connotations, and individuals bearing this name may have diverse backgrounds and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kartel over time
The chart below shows babies named Kartel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kartel, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kartel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kartel 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4114 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3552 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kartel
- 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
Kartel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kartel in the UK right now?
In 2023, Kartel was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kartel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 6 babies registered as Kartel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kartel?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "cartridge" or "ammunition".
How many people are called Kartel in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Kartel across the 9 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.