Kaarlo

German and Scandinavian variation of Charles

Kaarlo Origin and Meaning

The name Kaarlo is a boy's name of Finnish origin.

Kaarlo is a Finnish masculine name, essentially the Finnish variation of the name Charles or Karl. It derives from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man' or 'man', and was popularized throughout Europe during the medieval period through figures like Charlemagne (Charles the Great). In Finland, Kaarlo has been a traditional name for centuries, with periods of significant popularity particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable bearers include Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, the first president of independent Finland. The name carries connotations of strength, independence, and Nordic heritage. While primarily used in Finland, its straightforward pronunciation makes it accessible to non-Finnish speakers, though it remains a distinctive choice outside of Scandinavian countries.

Famous People Named Kaarlo

• Kaarlo Castrén (1860–1938) Prime Minister of Finland
• Kaarlo Bergbom (1843–1906) Finnish theatre director
• Kaarlo Blomstedt (1880–1949) Finnish historian and archivist
• Kaarlo Edward Kivekäs Finnish general
• Kaarlo Ekholm (1884–1946) Finnish gymnast who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Halttunen (1909–1986) Finnish actor
• Kaarlo Heiskanen (1894–1962) Finnish general and Knight of the Mannerheim Cross
• Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (1865–1952) Finnish jurist and academic
• Kaarlo Kangasniemi (born 1941) former Finnish weightlifter
• Kaarlo Koskelo (1888–1953) Finnish wrestler who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Kustaa Paasia (1883–1961) Finnish gymnast who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Leinonen (1914–1975) Finnish general and Minister of Defence
• Kaarlo Linkola (born Collan) (1888–1942) Finnish botanist and phytogeographer
• Kaarlo Mäkinen (1892–1980) Finnish freestyle wrestler and Olympic champion
• Kaarlo Maaninka (born 1953) former Finnish long distance runner
• Kaarlo Mikkolainen (1883–1928) Finnish gymnast who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Rantanen (born 1988) Finnish football player
• Kaarlo Sarkia (1902–1945) Finnish poet
• Kaarlo Soinio (1888–1960) Finnish gymnast
• Kaarlo Tuominen (1908–2006) Finnish steeplechase runner
• Kaarlo Uskela (1878–1922) Finnish writer, poet and anarchist
• Kaarlo Vähämäki (born 1892) Finnish gymnast who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Väkevä (1909–1932) Finnish boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Vasama (1885–1926) Finnish gymnast who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Kaarlo Wirilander (1908–1988) Finnish historian