Karel is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus' Places * Czech, ...

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

, Icelandic,

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

, Slovene and

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

form of

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

, meaning ''Free Man''.

Given name

The name Karel (and its diminutives, Karlík, Karlíček, and Kája) appears frequently among the Czechs. In 2006, 124,784 Karels lived in the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

, making the name the thirteenth most popular Czech name. Between 1999 and 2002, the number of Karels in the Czech Republic dropped by 2.7%, and the name dropped out of the twenty most popular newborn child names. Notable people with this given name include the following: *

Karel Aalbers Karel Aalbers (born June 28, 1949, Velp) is a Dutch businessman, who was the President of the football club Vitesse Arnhem from 1984 until February 2000. Career Aalbers' goal was to bring Vitesse from the bottom of the second tier, where the ...

(born 1949), Dutch businessman *

Karel Abraham Karel Abraham (born 2 January 1990) is a retired motorcycle racer from the Czech Republic. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from to , riding in the 125cc, 250cc, Moto2 and MotoGP classes, with the exception of 2016, when he raced in ...

(born 1990), Czech motorcycle racer *

Karel Ančerl Karel Ančerl (11 April 1908 – 3 July 1973) was a Czechoslovak conductor and composer, renowned especially for his performances of contemporary music and for his interpretations of music by Czech composers. Ančerl was born into a prosper ...

(1908–1973), Czech conductor * Karel Appel (1921–2006), Dutch artist * Karel Brückner (born 1939), Czech football coach *

Karel Čapek Karel Čapek (; 9 January 1890 – 25 December 1938) was a Czech writer, playwright and critic. He has become best known for his science fiction, including his novel '' War with the Newts'' (1936) and play '' R.U.R.'' (''Rossum's Universal ...

(1890–1938), Czech writer *

Karel Čurda Karel Čurda (10 October 1911 in Stará Hlína, today part of Třeboň – 29 April 1947 in Prague) was a Czech Nazi collaborator during World War II. Wartime activities A soldier of the Czechoslovak army in exile, Čurda was parachuted into t ...

(1911–1947), Czech Nazi collaborator *

Karel deLeeuw Karel deLeeuw, or de Leeuw ( – ), was a mathematics professor at Stanford University, specializing in harmonic analysis and functional analysis. Life and career Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and ...

(1930–1978), American mathematician *

Karel Dillen Karel Cornelia Constantijn Dillen (16 October 1925 – 27 April 2007) was a far-right Belgian politician and Flemish nationalist. Life According to Paul Beliën, editor of the Brussels Journal, "Dillen came from a non-political background. ...

(1925–2007), Belgian politician *

Karel Dobrý Karel Dobrý (born 2 May 1969) is a Czechs, Czech film, television and stage actor. He is known for playing Liet-Kynes in the ''Frank Herbert's Dune, Dune'' 2000 miniseries, and Korba (Dune), Korba in the 2003 sequel ''Frank Herbert's Children of ...

(born 1969), Czech actor *

Karel Doorman Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman (23 April 1889 – 28 February 1942) was a Dutch naval officer who during World War II commanded remnants of the short-lived American-British-Dutch-Australian Command naval strike forces in the Battle ...

(1889–1942), Dutch naval officer *

Karel Effa Karel Effa (born Karel Effenberger; 23 May 1922 – 11 June 1993) was a Czechoslovak character actor who appeared in some 65 films. Selected filmography * ''Uloupená hranice'' (1947) - Závodcí * ''Poslední mohykán'' (1947) * ''Parohy'' ...

(1922–1993), Czech actor *

Karel Espino Karel Aldair Espino Contreras (born 27 October 2001) is a Cuban professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga Nacional club Comunicaciones and the Cuba national team. International career He made his Cuba national football team de ...

(born 2001), Cuban football player *

Karel Jaromír Erben Karel Jaromír Erben (; 7 November 1811 – 21 November 1870) was a Czech folklorist and poet of the mid-19th century, best known for his collection '' Kytice'', which contains poems based on traditional and folkloric themes. He also wrote ''P ...

(1811–1870), Czech folklorist *

Karel Eykman Karel Eykman (1 March 1936 – 30 August 2022) was a Dutch writer of children's literature. Early life Eykman started studying theology in 1956. Career In 1969, Eykman published his first book ''De werksters van half vijf en andere gelij ...

(1936–2022), Dutch writer *

Karel Gott ) Sinatra of the East( cs, Sinatra Východu, link=no)Divine CharlieKarel Guzmán (born 1995), Cuban basketball player * Karel Havlíček (1907–1988), Czech painter *

Karel Havlíček Borovský Karel Havlíček Borovský (; Borová, today ''Havlíčkova Borová;'' 31 October 1821 – 29 July 1856) was a Czech writer, poet, critic, politician, journalist, and publisher. Early life and education He lived and studied at the Gymnasium ...

(1821–1856), Czech writer and journalist *

Karel Heřmánek Karel Heřmánek (born 17 October 1947, in Prague) is a Czech actor. He appeared in more than forty films between 1976 and 2008, including the role of Lucifer Lucifer is one of various figures in folklore associated with the planet Venus. Th ...

(born 1947), Czech actor * Karel van der Hucht (born 1946), Dutch astronomer *

Karel Husa Karel Husa (August 7, 1921 – December 14, 2016) was a Czech-born classical composer and conductor, winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize for Music and 1993 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. In 1954, he emigrated to t ...

(1921–2016), Czech composer and conductor *

Karel Janeček Karel Janeček (born 26 July 1973) is a Czech mathematician, entrepreneur, anti-corruption campaigner, creator of the D21 – Janeček method voting system and the online game Prezident 21. Early life and education Janeček was born in Plzeň. ...

(born 1973), Czech mathematician and businessman * Karel Janák (born 1970), Czech director * Karel Komárek (born 1969), Czech businessman *

Karel Marquez Karla Ysabel Marquez-Fariñas (born December 21, 1986; Manila, Philippines), professionally known as Karel Marquez-Fariñas, is a Filipina actress, model, singer, and TV host who's currently signed under manager, Becky Aguila since July 2017. B ...

(born 1982), Filipino entertainer *

Karel Martens Karel Martens (born 1939) is a Dutch freelance graphic designer, specialized in typography Biography Martens was born in Mook en Middelaar in 1939 and graduated from the Arnhem Academy of Art and Industrial Arts of the Netherlands in 1961 where ...

(born 1939), Dutch graphic designer *

Karel Poborský Karel Poborský (; born 30 March 1972) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a right winger. He was most noted for his technical ability and pace. He began and finished his club career at Dynamo České Budějovice, where his k ...

(born 1972), Czech football player * Karel Purkyně (1834–1868), Austro-Hungarian painter *

Karel Raška Karel Raška (; 17 November 1909 in Strašín – 21 November 1987 in Prague) was a Czech physician and epidemiologist, who headed the successful international effort during the 1960s to eradicate smallpox. Life Raška graduated from the gymnas ...

(1909–1987), Czech physician and epidemiologist *

Karel Reisz Karel Reisz (21 July 1926 – 25 November 2002) was a Czech-born British filmmaker, one of the pioneers of the new realist strain in British cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. Two of the best-known films he directed are '' Saturday Night and S ...

(1926–2002), Czech-born British filmmaker *

Karel Roden Karel Roden (born 18 May 1962) is a Czech actor, popularly known for his roles in ''Hellboy'' and ''The Bourne Supremacy'', and his voice work in '' Grand Theft Auto IV''. Life and career Roden followed his father and grandfather into acting. ...

(born 1962), Czech actor *

Karel Schwarzenberg Prince Karel of Schwarzenberg (, born 10 December 1937) is a Czech politician, former leader of the TOP 09 party and was its candidate for president of the Czech Republic in the 2013 election. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies ( ...

(born 1937), Czech politician * Karel Škréta (1610–1674), Czech painter * Karel Soucek (1947–1985), Canadian stuntman *

Karel Štěpánek Karel Štěpánek (29 October 189925 December 1980) was a Czech actor who spent many years in Austria and generally played German roles onscreen. In 1940 he moved to Britain and spent much of the rest of his career acting there. Partial filmo ...

(1899–1980), Czech actor *

Karel Svoboda (composer) Karel Svoboda (19 December 1938 – 28 January 2007) was a Czech composer of popular music. He wrote music for many TV series in the 1970s. Works Karel Svoboda was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia and began his career as a pop composer after a ...

(1938–2007), Czech composer of popular music *

Karel Svoboda (artist) Karel Svoboda (14 June 1824, Plánice - 13 September 1870, Vienna) was a Czech/Austrian painter, primarily of historical scenes, which are notable for their accurate detail. He worked in Prague and Vienna. Biography He was orphaned at an ea ...

(1824–1870), Czech/Austrian painter *

Karel Svoboda (scientist) Karel Svoboda (born 1965) is a neuroscientist. His research focuses on the question of how the neural circuits of the brain produce behavior. He has also performed notable work in molecular biophysics, neurotechnology, and neuroplasticity, particu ...

(born 1965), neuroscientist *

Karel Svoboda (table tennis) Karel Svoboda was a male Czech international table tennis player. He won a bronze medal at the 1931 World Table Tennis Championships in the men's doubles with Jindřich Lauterbach. He also won four consecutive team event silver medals from 1931 ...

, Czech table tennis player *

Karel Urbánek Karel Urbánek (born 22 March 1941 in Bojkovice, Moravia) is a retired Czech politician, and the last Communist leader of Czechoslovakia. Career A former Bojkovice railway station manager, he replaced Miloš Jakeš as Secretary General of th ...

(born 1941), Czech politician *

Karel van Mander III Karel van Mander (1609–1670) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and the grandson of Karel van Mander. Biography Karel van Mander III was born in Delft. According to Houbraken, who confused him with his father Karel van Mander the Younger, ...

(1609–1670), Dutch painter *

Karel Velebný Karel Velebný (17 March 1931 – 7 March 1989, Prague) was a Czech jazz musician, composer, arranger, actor, writer and music pedagogue. Velebný was one of the founders of modern Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century. Biography At ...

(1931–1989), Czech musician * Karel Voolaid (born 1977), Estonian football player and manager

Notes

{{reflist Given names Czech masculine given names Danish masculine given names Dutch masculine given names Finnish masculine given names Icelandic masculine given names Norwegian masculine given names Slovene masculine given names Swedish masculine given names