Carol
Carol is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free man.
Origin and history
Carol originates as a Latinized form of the Germanic name Karl, historically given to both males and females. In the United States, it was used for boys in the early to mid-20th century, though it is now exceedingly rare as a masculine name.
Popularity in the United States
8,656 babies in the United States have been named Carol since 1880. It ranks #1296 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- LA (9.4 %)
- SC (8.6 %)
- TX (8 %)
- NC (7.1 %)
- IL (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 35 |
| 1900-1910 | 72 |
| 1910-1920 | 592 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,550 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,481 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,958 |
| 1950-1960 | 914 |
| 1960-1970 | 571 |
| 1970-1980 | 212 |
| 1980-1990 | 173 |
| 1990-2000 | 60 |
| 2000-2010 | 33 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Carol
- Carol Reed: Film Director
Fun facts
- Carol was regularly used as a masculine name in English-speaking countries before becoming predominantly female in the mid-20th century.
- It developed as the Latinized form Carolus, which also gave rise to the name Charles.