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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Scandinavian pet form of Karl/Kaarlo, ultimately 'free man'
- Origin
- Swedish/Finnish
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KAH-leh
Kalle is a Swedish and Finnish name, pronounced KAH-leh, used as a pet form of Karl or Kaarlo — names that ultimately mean 'free man.' It's a clean, modern, worldly pick: short, easy to say, and rooted in real Scandinavian usage rather than an invented spelling. If you want a name with genuine Nordic ties that still reads clean and modern, Kalle is worth a look.
Meaning & Origin of Kalle
Meaning: Scandinavian pet form of Karl/Kaarlo, ultimately 'free man'.
Origin: Swedish/Finnish.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kalle
KAH-lehIPA /ˈkɑːlɛ/
Popularity of Kalle
U.S. Social Security data from 1977 to 2015 shows Kalle topping out at #3194 in 1998, with 39 babies given the name that year, before falling to #11396 by 2015, when only 6 babies received it — a name that has stayed uncommon in the U.S. even at its high point.
Names Like Kalle
These names share Kalle’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Kalle mean?
Scandinavian pet form of Karl/Kaarlo, ultimately ‘free man’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Kalle?
Kalle is pronounced KAH-leh (IPA: /ˈkɑːlɛ/).
Is Kalle a popular name right now?
Kalle peaked at #3194 in 1998 and is ranked #11396 as of 2015. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1977–2015.)
Make Kalle Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kalle, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Kalle? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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