Carol
How to say it: KAR-uhl · /ˈkærəl/
Feminine form of Charles/Carolus, from Germanic Karl meaning 'free man'; also associated with the word 'carol' (joyful song).
Carol was the 1,281st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 82 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 30% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,531 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,281 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 82 |
| Share of births | 1 in 26,105 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −30% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,531 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Carol peaked in the 1940s and is less common today.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Carrie
- Caro
Other spellings
Honouring a Carol in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Carol is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Welsh.
Famous people named Carol
- Carol Burnett (born 1933)American actress, comedian and singer
- Carol Kane (born 1952)American actress
- Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)Scottish poet and playwright
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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