Fun Facts About the Name Carol
- An established favorite: Carol held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 44 consecutive years, from 1928 through 1971.
- More than 825 thousand babies named Carol: U.S. records list 825,576 babies given the name Carol from 1880 through 2025. Even 8,656 boys received the name Carol - about 1 boy for every 94 girls.
What Does the Name Carol Mean?
Carol is a feminine given name of Germanic origin. It means "free man," from the Germanic root *karlaz, which meant "man" or "free man." That root was Latinized as Carolus, the source of Charles and Carl. Carol is a short form of Caroline and Carolina, the feminine names built on Carolus, so it carries the same root meaning. The English common noun carol, meaning a song or a ring dance, has a separate origin in Old French carole and is unrelated to the given name.
Carol Name History & Origins
The Germanic root *karlaz produced Old High German karl and Old Norse karl, both meaning "man" or "free man." Latin writers rendered the name as Carolus, which appears in the Latin name of Charlemagne, Carolus Magnus (Charles the Great). The Carolingian dynasty took its name from this root, and Carolus spread through medieval Europe as the source of Charles, Karl, and Carlos.
Feminine forms grew from the same stem, including Latin Carola, French Carole, and English Caroline and Carolina. Carol arose as a short form of Caroline and as a feminine name in its own right, coming into wide use in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. In Romanian, by contrast, Carol is a masculine name, borne by the kings Carol I and Carol II.
How Popular is the Name Carol?
Carol remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1928 to 1971. Its highest annual birth count was in 1946, and people born that year turn 80 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,242 | 82 | 0.0051% |
| 2024 | #2,631 | 66 | 0.0041% |
| 2023 | #2,422 | 74 | 0.0046% |
| 2022 | #2,275 | 82 | 0.0050% |
| 2021 | #2,154 | 87 | 0.0053% |
| 2020 | #1,911 | 100 | 0.0062% |
| 2019 | #1,818 | 112 | 0.0067% |
| 2018 | #1,790 | 114 | 0.0067% |
| 2017 | #1,816 | 114 | 0.0066% |
| 2016 | #1,662 | 129 | 0.0073% |
| 2015 | #1,770 | 118 | 0.0066% |
| 2014 | #1,489 | 150 | 0.0084% |
| 2013 | #1,617 | 133 | 0.0076% |
| 2012 | #1,385 | 168 | 0.0095% |
| 2011 | #1,251 | 191 | 0.0109% |
| 2010 | #1,495 | 150 | 0.0084% |
| 2009 | #1,285 | 189 | 0.0103% |
| 2008 | #1,130 | 228 | 0.0121% |
| 2007 | #1,048 | 250 | 0.0130% |
| 2006 | #972 | 270 | 0.0142% |
| 2005 | #758 | 351 | 0.0190% |
| 2004 | #851 | 289 | 0.0157% |
| 2003 | #871 | 276 | 0.0151% |
| 2002 | #845 | 274 | 0.0152% |
| 2001 | #831 | 278 | 0.0154% |
| 2000 | #719 | 322 | 0.0177% |
| 1999 | #741 | 302 | 0.0170% |
| 1998 | #658 | 351 | 0.0199% |
| 1997 | #607 | 374 | 0.0215% |
| 1996 | #565 | 412 | 0.0235% |
| 1995 | #525 | 460 | 0.0262% |
| 1994 | #495 | 501 | 0.0281% |
| 1993 | #494 | 506 | 0.0280% |
| 1992 | #413 | 612 | 0.0332% |
| 1991 | #384 | 672 | 0.0358% |
| 1990 | #349 | 762 | 0.0401% |
| 1989 | #338 | 752 | 0.0408% |
| 1988 | #333 | 741 | 0.0416% |
| 1987 | #318 | 763 | 0.0439% |
| 1986 | #310 | 770 | 0.0449% |
| 1985 | #292 | 841 | 0.0489% |
| 1984 | #268 | 906 | 0.0538% |
| 1983 | #251 | 942 | 0.0564% |
| 1982 | #263 | 945 | 0.0558% |
| 1981 | #238 | 1,044 | 0.0626% |
| 1980 | #232 | 1,105 | 0.0666% |
| 1979 | #225 | 1,163 | 0.0724% |
| 1978 | #205 | 1,264 | 0.0825% |
| 1977 | #198 | 1,346 | 0.0878% |
| 1976 | #171 | 1,492 | 0.1018% |
| 1975 | #150 | 1,785 | 0.1224% |
| 1974 | #139 | 2,038 | 0.1389% |
| 1973 | #121 | 2,457 | 0.1685% |
| 1972 | #109 | 3,009 | 0.1978% |
| 1971 | #92 | 3,859 | 0.2319% |
| 1970 | #71 | 5,063 | 0.2896% |
| 1969 | #56 | 6,138 | 0.3638% |
| 1968 | #49 | 7,078 | 0.4315% |
| 1967 | #47 | 7,490 | 0.4537% |
| 1966 | #48 | 8,259 | 0.4881% |
| 1965 | #42 | 10,096 | 0.5720% |
| 1964 | #36 | 12,125 | 0.6399% |
| 1963 | #33 | 12,492 | 0.6481% |
| 1962 | #28 | 14,523 | 0.7385% |
| 1961 | #24 | 16,668 | 0.8258% |
| 1960 | #23 | 17,463 | 0.8637% |
| 1959 | #22 | 18,137 | 0.8963% |
| 1958 | #20 | 19,684 | 0.9785% |
| 1957 | #18 | 21,898 | 1.0709% |
| 1956 | #16 | 21,407 | 1.0662% |
| 1955 | #15 | 22,047 | 1.1276% |
| 1954 | #15 | 22,247 | 1.1456% |
| 1953 | #16 | 22,291 | 1.1849% |
| 1952 | #12 | 23,999 | 1.2942% |
| 1951 | #11 | 24,781 | 1.3761% |
| 1950 | #9 | 26,163 | 1.5273% |
| 1949 | #8 | 26,781 | 1.5653% |
| 1948 | #8 | 28,977 | 1.7066% |
| 1947 | #6 | 33,543 | 1.8921% |
| 1946 | #5 | 34,283 | 2.1818% |
| 1945 | #5 | 30,388 | 2.3249% |
| 1944 | #5 | 30,456 | 2.2947% |
| 1943 | #5 | 31,685 | 2.2709% |
| 1942 | #5 | 30,271 | 2.2411% |
| 1941 | #4 | 24,187 | 2.0020% |
| 1940 | #6 | 21,759 | 1.9028% |
| 1939 | #6 | 20,166 | 1.8389% |
| 1938 | #6 | 19,421 | 1.7601% |
| 1937 | #6 | 17,336 | 1.6293% |
| 1936 | #10 | 14,519 | 1.3956% |
| 1935 | #11 | 11,734 | 1.1190% |
| 1934 | #14 | 10,274 | 0.9839% |
| 1933 | #20 | 8,220 | 0.8155% |
| 1932 | #32 | 6,570 | 0.6157% |
| 1931 | #46 | 4,891 | 0.4594% |
| 1930 | #54 | 4,598 | 0.4084% |
| 1929 | #63 | 4,279 | 0.3832% |
| 1928 | #77 | 3,349 | 0.2904% |
| 1927 | #106 | 2,643 | 0.2216% |
| 1926 | #113 | 2,427 | 0.2047% |
| 1925 | #119 | 2,286 | 0.1878% |
| 1924 | #132 | 2,094 | 0.1677% |
| 1923 | #139 | 1,864 | 0.1545% |
| 1922 | #158 | 1,522 | 0.1267% |
| 1921 | #166 | 1,374 | 0.1114% |
| 1920 | #182 | 1,140 | 0.0951% |
| 1919 | #200 | 932 | 0.0825% |
| 1918 | #196 | 1,011 | 0.0873% |
| 1917 | #215 | 798 | 0.0738% |
| 1916 | #215 | 789 | 0.0756% |
| 1915 | #243 | 596 | 0.0606% |
| 1914 | #251 | 437 | 0.0574% |
| 1913 | #254 | 332 | 0.0532% |
| 1912 | #247 | 324 | 0.0581% |
| 1911 | #291 | 181 | 0.0433% |
| 1910 | #285 | 185 | 0.0467% |
| 1909 | #302 | 142 | 0.0409% |
| 1908 | #294 | 146 | 0.0437% |
| 1907 | #329 | 112 | 0.0352% |
| 1906 | #339 | 97 | 0.0328% |
| 1905 | #351 | 91 | 0.0312% |
| 1904 | #330 | 98 | 0.0356% |
| 1903 | #389 | 67 | 0.0256% |
| 1902 | #357 | 80 | 0.0303% |
| 1901 | #378 | 61 | 0.0255% |
| 1900 | #397 | 70 | 0.0234% |
| 1899 | #361 | 65 | 0.0279% |
| 1898 | #391 | 63 | 0.0243% |
| 1897 | #455 | 42 | 0.0179% |
| 1896 | #490 | 36 | 0.0151% |
| 1895 | #404 | 48 | 0.0205% |
| 1894 | #519 | 31 | 0.0139% |
| 1893 | #503 | 30 | 0.0141% |
| 1892 | #504 | 29 | 0.0137% |
| 1891 | #526 | 24 | 0.0129% |
| 1890 | #510 | 26 | 0.0137% |
| 1889 | #443 | 30 | 0.0168% |
| 1888 | #561 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1887 | #590 | 15 | 0.0103% |
| 1886 | #638 | 13 | 0.0090% |
| 1885 | #661 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #800 | 8 | 0.0062% |
| 1882 | #827 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1881 | #543 | 10 | 0.0109% |
| 1880 | #685 | 7 | 0.0077% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #12,776 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #8,288 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #12,329 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #5,615 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #10,129 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #4,835 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #6,917 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #4,922 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #5,143 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #3,802 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #2,704 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,869 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1987 | #3,217 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1986 | #2,437 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1985 | #3,434 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #2,714 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #3,090 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #3,126 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #2,916 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #2,376 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #2,684 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1978 | #2,685 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #2,571 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,620 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #2,776 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #1,996 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #1,882 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1972 | #1,539 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1971 | #1,600 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1970 | #1,708 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1969 | #1,222 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1968 | #1,167 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1967 | #1,135 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1966 | #1,135 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1965 | #988 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1964 | #1,037 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 1963 | #1,029 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 1962 | #889 | 74 | 0.0036% |
| 1961 | #860 | 79 | 0.0037% |
| 1960 | #825 | 85 | 0.0040% |
| 1959 | #876 | 76 | 0.0036% |
| 1958 | #902 | 70 | 0.0033% |
| 1957 | #805 | 87 | 0.0040% |
| 1956 | #771 | 92 | 0.0043% |
| 1955 | #828 | 78 | 0.0038% |
| 1954 | #758 | 88 | 0.0043% |
| 1953 | #797 | 80 | 0.0041% |
| 1952 | #681 | 104 | 0.0054% |
| 1951 | #667 | 110 | 0.0058% |
| 1950 | #602 | 129 | 0.0072% |
| 1949 | #591 | 132 | 0.0074% |
| 1948 | #603 | 126 | 0.0072% |
| 1947 | #529 | 163 | 0.0089% |
| 1946 | #485 | 174 | 0.0107% |
| 1945 | #430 | 192 | 0.0143% |
| 1944 | #456 | 177 | 0.0130% |
| 1943 | #406 | 231 | 0.0162% |
| 1942 | #373 | 267 | 0.0193% |
| 1941 | #372 | 243 | 0.0198% |
| 1940 | #361 | 253 | 0.0218% |
| 1939 | #347 | 258 | 0.0233% |
| 1938 | #338 | 269 | 0.0243% |
| 1937 | #324 | 278 | 0.0261% |
| 1936 | #337 | 265 | 0.0255% |
| 1935 | #379 | 206 | 0.0198% |
| 1934 | #346 | 252 | 0.0244% |
| 1933 | #327 | 269 | 0.0271% |
| 1932 | #380 | 218 | 0.0209% |
| 1931 | #353 | 246 | 0.0237% |
| 1930 | #384 | 220 | 0.0200% |
| 1929 | #402 | 210 | 0.0195% |
| 1928 | #426 | 195 | 0.0176% |
| 1927 | #397 | 228 | 0.0202% |
| 1926 | #461 | 170 | 0.0153% |
| 1925 | #505 | 146 | 0.0131% |
| 1924 | #548 | 132 | 0.0117% |
| 1923 | #620 | 105 | 0.0096% |
| 1922 | #544 | 133 | 0.0122% |
| 1921 | #568 | 124 | 0.0113% |
| 1920 | #609 | 107 | 0.0101% |
| 1919 | #739 | 75 | 0.0077% |
| 1918 | #620 | 98 | 0.0097% |
| 1917 | #604 | 97 | 0.0105% |
| 1916 | #586 | 98 | 0.0110% |
| 1915 | #657 | 78 | 0.0092% |
| 1914 | #701 | 54 | 0.0082% |
| 1913 | #820 | 34 | 0.0066% |
| 1912 | #766 | 32 | 0.0074% |
| 1911 | #993 | 12 | 0.0053% |
| 1910 | #824 | 14 | 0.0072% |
| 1909 | #619 | 19 | 0.0116% |
| 1908 | #1,131 | 7 | 0.0045% |
| 1907 | #826 | 11 | 0.0075% |
| 1906 | #1,024 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1905 | #1,119 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1903 | #743 | 10 | 0.0084% |
| 1902 | #1,030 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1900 | #1,187 | 6 | 0.0040% |
| 1898 | #1,148 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1897 | #860 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1895 | #996 | 6 | 0.0051% |
| 1892 | #975 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1891 | #861 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #1,026 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1884 | #994 | 5 | 0.0044% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Carol
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Most Popular Girl Names at All Time
Established Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Carol
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with C
Short Girl Names That Start with C
How the Name Carol Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Carol's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Carol's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.