Carolyn
Carolyn is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free man or strong.
Origin and history
Carolyn is traditionally a feminine variant of Caroline, derived from the Germanic name Charles meaning 'free man'. Though overwhelmingly used as a female name in the United States, historical SSA records show rare usage for males. It peaked in general popularity during the mid-20th century.
Popularity in the United States
1,620 babies in the United States have been named Carolyn since 1880. It ranks #3142 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (30.7 %)
- NC (20.2 %)
- NY (15.8 %)
- DC (9.6 %)
- OK (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 15 |
| 1920-1930 | 48 |
| 1930-1940 | 270 |
| 1940-1950 | 523 |
| 1950-1960 | 311 |
| 1960-1970 | 237 |
| 1970-1980 | 93 |
| 1980-1990 | 101 |
| 1990-2000 | 22 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Fun facts
- Carolyn is a feminine diminutive of Carolus, which is the Latinized form of the Germanic name Charles.
- Over 1,600 males in the U.S. have been named Carolyn since official record-keeping began in 1880.