Károly

German variation of Charles

"free man"

Károly Origin and Meaning

The name Károly is a boy's name of Hungarian origin.

Károly is the Hungarian form of the name Charles, derived from Germanic origins meaning 'free man' or 'manly.' Common in Hungary and among Hungarian communities worldwide, the name has strong historical associations, including multiple Hungarian kings and notable figures bearing this name. The most famous was perhaps Emperor Charles I of Austria, who ruled as King Károly IV of Hungary. The name maintains moderate popularity in Hungary, where traditional names continue to be valued. Károly has a distinctive sound with its characteristic Hungarian pronunciation and accent placement, making it both recognizably European yet distinctly Magyar in character.