Karl vs Loki

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Karl

Boy #1,684 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"free man, strong man"

Origin: Old High German

Cultural Roots

German Scandinavian Austrian Swedish Norwegian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,684
Total SSA Count
99
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
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Loki

Boy #1,771 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"trickster, shapeshifter"

Origin: Old Norse mythology

Cultural Roots

Scandinavian Norse mythology Modern pop culture

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,771
Total SSA Count
93
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Lo

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Loki →

Popularity Comparison

Karl Rank #1,684
Loki Rank #1,771

Karl is more popular, ranked #1684 vs #1771 for Loki.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Karl ___

  • Karl Friedrich
  • Karl Heinrich
  • Karl Magnus
  • Karl Erik
  • Karl Gunnar
  • Karl Lars

Loki ___

  • Loki James
  • Loki Stone
  • Loki Fox
  • Loki River
  • Loki Finn
  • Loki Cole

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Karl

Hans Brigitte Ingrid Heinz Erika

If you choose Loki

Thor Axel Phoenix Raven Ember

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Karl or Loki more popular?

Karl is more popular, ranked #1684 compared to Loki at #1771 in the United States.

What do Karl and Loki mean?

Karl means "free man, strong man" (Old High German origin). Loki means "trickster, shapeshifter" (Old Norse mythology origin).

Are Karl and Loki boy or girl names?

Karl is primarily a boy name. Loki is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Karl ← Full profile: Loki Browse all baby names