Carolyn
How to say it: KAR-uh-lin · /ˈkærəlɪn/
Feminine form of Carolus (Charles), from Germanic 'karl' meaning 'free man'. A mid-20th century classic.
Carolyn was the 1,036th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 185 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 50% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,266 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,036 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 185 |
| Share of births | 1 in 17,920 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −50% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,266 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
A midcentury favorite that peaked in the 1940s, Carolyn has grown rarer since. Now far below that high, it is expected to slip.
What goes with it
Mellow and flowing with soft sounds, pronounced KAR uh lin. Barbara shares its style.
Parents who love Carolyn also love
Nicknames
- Carol
- Carrie
- Lynn
- Cary
Honouring a Carolyn in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Carolyn is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German.
Famous people named Carolyn
- Carolyn Bertozzi (born 1966)American chemist
- Carolyn Porco (born 1953)American planetary scientist
- Carolyn S. Shoemaker (1929–2021)American astronomer, researcher and university teacher
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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