Carolyn
Carolyn is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free woman; derived from the Germanic root for 'free man'.
Origin and history
Carolyn is a feminine variant of Caroline, derived from the Germanic name Charles, meaning 'free man'. It gained immense popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and remains a classic, traditional choice today. Though its ranking has dropped in recent years, it retains a timeless and familiar appeal.
Popularity in the United States
556,777 babies in the United States have been named Carolyn since 1880. It ranks #53 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1046.
States where it is most popular
- TX (6.3 %)
- NY (6 %)
- CA (5.9 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
- NC (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 856 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,401 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,009 |
| 1910-1920 | 8,940 |
| 1920-1930 | 22,776 |
| 1930-1940 | 69,525 |
| 1940-1950 | 181,858 |
| 1950-1960 | 124,067 |
| 1960-1970 | 75,266 |
| 1970-1980 | 27,046 |
| 1980-1990 | 18,628 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,884 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,737 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,482 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,302 |
Famous people named Carolyn
- Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy: Publicist, Fashion Icon
- Carolyn Jones: Actress
- Carolyn Porco: Planetary Scientist, Astrophysicist
Nicknames
Carrie, Carol, Lynn, Carly
Fun facts
- Carolyn was a top 10 name for girls in the United States during the late 1930s and 1940s.
- It shares its ultimate root with Karl, Charles, and Caroline, tracing back to the Old High German word 'karl' meaning free man.