Fun Facts About the Name Caroline
- Back among the favorites: Caroline returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 32 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Caroline's rank fell 4 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 250 thousand babies named Caroline: U.S. records list 250,701 babies given the name Caroline from 1880 through 2025. Even 309 boys received the name Caroline - about 1 boy for every 810 girls.
What Does the Name Caroline Mean?
Caroline is the French feminine form of the Latin name Carolus, the Latinized form of the Germanic name that became Charles. The root is the Germanic word karl (Old High German and Old Norse karl, from Proto-Germanic *karlaz), which meant "man" or "free man" - a man of free, non-servile status. A feminine ending added to Carolus produced the Latin Carolina, the source of French Caroline, Italian and Spanish Carolina, German Karoline, and Swedish and Polish Karolina. Read literally, the name means "free woman," but it is usually explained more simply as the feminine form of Charles.
The English word carol, meaning a song or a circle dance with singing, is unrelated; it comes from Old French carole. The resemblance between the two is coincidental.
Caroline Name History & Origins
Carolus was the Latin form used for Frankish rulers named Charles, above all Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus), crowned Roman emperor in 800. His dynasty is called Carolingian, and the adjective "Caroline" was later applied to the reigns of the English kings Charles I and Charles II and to churchmen of that period, the Caroline divines - all from the same Latin root. The feminine Carolina was formed in medieval Latin, and vernacular forms in the same family appeared across Europe: Caroline in France, Carolina in Italy and Spain, Karoline in German-speaking lands, and Karolina in Sweden and Poland.
In Britain the name was in use by the 17th century and was borne by two queens consort: Caroline of Ansbach, wife of George II, and Caroline of Brunswick, wife of George IV. It has continued in use in the English-speaking world, most often in the French form Caroline, with the short forms Carrie and Caro.
How Popular is the Name Caroline?
Caroline ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1893, then returned in 1994 and remained through 2025.
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 | #96 | 2,646 | 0.1646% |
| 2024 | #92 | 2,720 | 0.1686% |
| 2023 | #83 | 2,868 | 0.1790% |
| 2022 | #77 | 3,029 | 0.1848% |
| 2021 | #80 | 3,202 | 0.1953% |
| 2020 | #71 | 3,362 | 0.2081% |
| 2019 | #61 | 3,919 | 0.2336% |
| 2018 | #56 | 4,167 | 0.2451% |
| 2017 | #55 | 4,294 | 0.2488% |
| 2016 | #56 | 4,437 | 0.2505% |
| 2015 | #62 | 4,333 | 0.2428% |
| 2014 | #59 | 4,347 | 0.2434% |
| 2013 | #63 | 3,983 | 0.2270% |
| 2012 | #80 | 3,420 | 0.1942% |
| 2011 | #87 | 3,370 | 0.1916% |
| 2010 | #88 | 3,360 | 0.1890% |
| 2009 | #87 | 3,624 | 0.1973% |
| 2008 | #94 | 3,543 | 0.1874% |
| 2007 | #99 | 3,408 | 0.1773% |
| 2006 | #89 | 3,791 | 0.1994% |
| 2005 | #83 | 3,973 | 0.2150% |
| 2004 | #74 | 4,379 | 0.2385% |
| 2003 | #68 | 4,585 | 0.2510% |
| 2002 | #67 | 4,657 | 0.2592% |
| 2001 | #62 | 4,864 | 0.2701% |
| 2000 | #65 | 5,022 | 0.2765% |
| 1999 | #71 | 4,474 | 0.2522% |
| 1998 | #75 | 4,276 | 0.2420% |
| 1997 | #75 | 4,439 | 0.2550% |
| 1996 | #78 | 4,466 | 0.2548% |
| 1995 | #92 | 3,799 | 0.2160% |
| 1994 | #94 | 3,452 | 0.1933% |
| 1993 | #105 | 3,083 | 0.1704% |
| 1992 | #105 | 3,176 | 0.1722% |
| 1991 | #116 | 2,843 | 0.1516% |
| 1990 | #116 | 2,819 | 0.1485% |
| 1989 | #113 | 2,661 | 0.1443% |
| 1988 | #122 | 2,326 | 0.1306% |
| 1987 | #135 | 2,047 | 0.1177% |
| 1986 | #157 | 1,802 | 0.1050% |
| 1985 | #164 | 1,751 | 0.1018% |
| 1984 | #168 | 1,632 | 0.0969% |
| 1983 | #183 | 1,484 | 0.0888% |
| 1982 | #178 | 1,537 | 0.0908% |
| 1981 | #193 | 1,391 | 0.0834% |
| 1980 | #200 | 1,313 | 0.0791% |
| 1979 | #198 | 1,354 | 0.0843% |
| 1978 | #201 | 1,308 | 0.0854% |
| 1977 | #210 | 1,204 | 0.0785% |
| 1976 | #197 | 1,224 | 0.0835% |
| 1975 | #198 | 1,231 | 0.0844% |
| 1974 | #212 | 1,197 | 0.0816% |
| 1973 | #229 | 1,112 | 0.0763% |
| 1972 | #251 | 1,071 | 0.0704% |
| 1971 | #241 | 1,215 | 0.0730% |
| 1970 | #229 | 1,371 | 0.0784% |
| 1969 | #224 | 1,352 | 0.0801% |
| 1968 | #215 | 1,412 | 0.0861% |
| 1967 | #210 | 1,450 | 0.0878% |
| 1966 | #202 | 1,551 | 0.0917% |
| 1965 | #187 | 1,815 | 0.1028% |
| 1964 | #179 | 2,106 | 0.1111% |
| 1963 | #208 | 1,690 | 0.0877% |
| 1962 | #186 | 1,989 | 0.1011% |
| 1961 | #176 | 2,199 | 0.1089% |
| 1960 | #254 | 1,209 | 0.0598% |
| 1959 | #274 | 1,044 | 0.0516% |
| 1958 | #282 | 990 | 0.0492% |
| 1957 | #253 | 1,137 | 0.0556% |
| 1956 | #329 | 702 | 0.0350% |
| 1955 | #315 | 742 | 0.0379% |
| 1954 | #302 | 771 | 0.0397% |
| 1953 | #280 | 885 | 0.0470% |
| 1952 | #263 | 916 | 0.0494% |
| 1951 | #254 | 919 | 0.0510% |
| 1950 | #257 | 879 | 0.0513% |
| 1949 | #235 | 1,001 | 0.0585% |
| 1948 | #226 | 1,080 | 0.0636% |
| 1947 | #220 | 1,150 | 0.0649% |
| 1946 | #214 | 1,090 | 0.0694% |
| 1945 | #197 | 1,015 | 0.0777% |
| 1944 | #178 | 1,212 | 0.0913% |
| 1943 | #171 | 1,353 | 0.0970% |
| 1942 | #168 | 1,390 | 0.1029% |
| 1941 | #174 | 1,173 | 0.0971% |
| 1940 | #172 | 1,161 | 0.1015% |
| 1939 | #186 | 1,005 | 0.0916% |
| 1938 | #182 | 1,115 | 0.1010% |
| 1937 | #181 | 1,094 | 0.1028% |
| 1936 | #177 | 1,075 | 0.1033% |
| 1935 | #178 | 1,048 | 0.0999% |
| 1934 | #174 | 1,069 | 0.1024% |
| 1933 | #173 | 1,050 | 0.1042% |
| 1932 | #174 | 1,103 | 0.1034% |
| 1931 | #165 | 1,125 | 0.1057% |
| 1930 | #172 | 1,160 | 0.1030% |
| 1929 | #171 | 1,192 | 0.1068% |
| 1928 | #175 | 1,189 | 0.1031% |
| 1927 | #179 | 1,167 | 0.0979% |
| 1926 | #174 | 1,217 | 0.1027% |
| 1925 | #185 | 1,193 | 0.0980% |
| 1924 | #175 | 1,302 | 0.1043% |
| 1923 | #173 | 1,304 | 0.1081% |
| 1922 | #176 | 1,269 | 0.1057% |
| 1921 | #162 | 1,425 | 0.1156% |
| 1920 | #159 | 1,436 | 0.1198% |
| 1919 | #169 | 1,296 | 0.1147% |
| 1918 | #154 | 1,458 | 0.1259% |
| 1917 | #152 | 1,368 | 0.1265% |
| 1916 | #144 | 1,385 | 0.1326% |
| 1915 | #137 | 1,402 | 0.1425% |
| 1914 | #148 | 989 | 0.1299% |
| 1913 | #149 | 805 | 0.1289% |
| 1912 | #139 | 785 | 0.1407% |
| 1911 | #146 | 550 | 0.1315% |
| 1910 | #146 | 553 | 0.1395% |
| 1909 | #157 | 443 | 0.1276% |
| 1908 | #150 | 449 | 0.1343% |
| 1907 | #151 | 437 | 0.1372% |
| 1906 | #144 | 409 | 0.1385% |
| 1905 | #146 | 407 | 0.1396% |
| 1904 | #136 | 429 | 0.1558% |
| 1903 | #141 | 389 | 0.1485% |
| 1902 | #126 | 452 | 0.1712% |
| 1901 | #125 | 406 | 0.1696% |
| 1900 | #135 | 455 | 0.1518% |
| 1899 | #124 | 393 | 0.1687% |
| 1898 | #122 | 441 | 0.1704% |
| 1897 | #112 | 456 | 0.1947% |
| 1896 | #110 | 437 | 0.1837% |
| 1895 | #105 | 484 | 0.2072% |
| 1894 | #103 | 473 | 0.2122% |
| 1893 | #99 | 483 | 0.2269% |
| 1892 | #100 | 476 | 0.2242% |
| 1891 | #100 | 402 | 0.2167% |
| 1890 | #94 | 455 | 0.2390% |
| 1889 | #84 | 491 | 0.2753% |
| 1888 | #89 | 458 | 0.2564% |
| 1887 | #84 | 398 | 0.2726% |
| 1886 | #92 | 370 | 0.2560% |
| 1885 | #78 | 399 | 0.2999% |
| 1884 | #78 | 380 | 0.2945% |
| 1883 | #86 | 321 | 0.2858% |
| 1882 | #85 | 304 | 0.2819% |
| 1881 | #73 | 316 | 0.3437% |
| 1880 | #75 | 306 | 0.3363% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #10,938 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #6,817 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,272 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #5,859 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #7,631 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #8,317 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #8,858 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #8,630 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #9,478 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #7,067 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #6,762 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,000 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #2,251 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1988 | #5,265 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #4,001 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #6,872 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,671 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #3,957 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #5,094 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #4,196 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,382 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,179 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,921 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #3,754 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #4,242 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,752 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,989 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,125 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1961 | #3,694 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,115 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1942 | #3,637 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #2,696 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #3,559 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,947 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #3,422 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #4,078 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #3,113 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1923 | #4,328 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,251 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1914 | #2,688 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1891 | #995 | 5 | 0.0049% |
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 Caroline
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.
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How the Name Caroline 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.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Caroline's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Caroline's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.