Where does “Karl” come from?

Karl (Swedish) comes from Old Swedish karilʀ, from Old Norse Karl, from Proto-Norse ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

Ancestry of “Karl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Swedishkarilʀa man
2Old NorseKarlman
3Proto-Norseᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ
4Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
5Proto-Germanickaraz
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

Words derived from “Karl

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂-Every word from Proto-Germanic karazEvery word from Proto-Germanic karilaz
Karl — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer