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Caroline Name Origin: French
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Pronunciation: cair-ah-line
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See what 15 people think about Caroline
Caroline Name Meaning
With a meaning as enviable as “free woman,” Caroline is a beautiful name for a little girl. A French feminine form of Charles, she’s also a clever way to honor a father or other relative bearing the name.
Caroline has always hovered in a sweet spot of popularity, never quite reaching the heights of being overused or trendy. She’s vintage of course, but not at all dated, a classic choice in a field packed with unisex monikers and surname names. She does manage to keep in step with the current trend of -line endings seen in Madeline and Adeline, however.
A sweet name with an interesting history, given to princesses, first ladies, and first daughters alike. She’s just as posh as today’s chart darling Charlotte but free of the sudden surge of popularity. She’ll always be a sophisticated choice, a proper name with good bones for growth.
While Caroline is a classy choice for a grown woman, she always wears well on a curious little girl. Delicate and delightful, Caroline is sure to be a little one eager to learn more about the world around her. She has several nicknames for parents to choose from including Carrie, Lina, and Carol. She also has a few variations like Carolyn and Carolina.
Infographic of Caroline name meaning, which is A French form of Charles, Caroline means free man.
Ask your friends & family about Caroline…
Caroline Name Popularity
How popular is the name Caroline? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
148 |
518 |
0.1471% |
| 1911 |
146 |
517 |
0.1388% |
| 1912 |
137 |
767 |
0.1521% |
| 1913 |
149 |
764 |
0.1348% |
| 1914 |
149 |
954 |
0.1369% |
| 1915 |
137 |
1,382 |
0.1521% |
| 1916 |
143 |
1,370 |
0.1418% |
| 1917 |
152 |
1,355 |
0.1354% |
| 1918 |
154 |
1,438 |
0.134% |
| 1919 |
167 |
1,279 |
0.1221% |
| 1920 |
159 |
1,419 |
0.1276% |
| 1921 |
162 |
1,409 |
0.123% |
| 1922 |
175 |
1,247 |
0.1119% |
| 1923 |
171 |
1,288 |
0.115% |
| 1924 |
175 |
1,282 |
0.1104% |
| 1925 |
183 |
1,168 |
0.1033% |
| 1926 |
174 |
1,193 |
0.1085% |
| 1927 |
179 |
1,144 |
0.1033% |
| 1928 |
175 |
1,163 |
0.1087% |
| 1929 |
173 |
1,155 |
0.1115% |
| 1930 |
172 |
1,138 |
0.1089% |
| 1931 |
165 |
1,098 |
0.1112% |
| 1932 |
172 |
1,077 |
0.109% |
| 1933 |
172 |
1,032 |
0.1108% |
| 1934 |
176 |
1,025 |
0.106% |
| 1935 |
174 |
1,043 |
0.1073% |
| 1936 |
177 |
1,053 |
0.1093% |
| 1937 |
181 |
1,074 |
0.109% |
| 1938 |
179 |
1,098 |
0.1073% |
| 1939 |
186 |
988 |
0.0971% |
| 1940 |
172 |
1,145 |
0.1077% |
| 1941 |
173 |
1,154 |
0.1025% |
| 1942 |
166 |
1,375 |
0.1089% |
| 1943 |
171 |
1,337 |
0.1024% |
| 1944 |
174 |
1,197 |
0.0966% |
| 1945 |
196 |
988 |
0.081% |
| 1946 |
212 |
1,079 |
0.0731% |
| 1947 |
219 |
1,120 |
0.0671% |
| 1948 |
222 |
1,067 |
0.0668% |
| 1949 |
233 |
992 |
0.0617% |
| 1950 |
253 |
857 |
0.0532% |
| 1951 |
250 |
900 |
0.0531% |
| 1952 |
263 |
890 |
0.051% |
| 1953 |
276 |
866 |
0.0489% |
| 1954 |
303 |
746 |
0.0408% |
| 1955 |
316 |
701 |
0.0381% |
| 1956 |
329 |
662 |
0.0351% |
| 1957 |
253 |
1,111 |
0.0577% |
| 1958 |
281 |
963 |
0.051% |
| 1959 |
275 |
1,022 |
0.0538% |
| 1960 |
255 |
1,187 |
0.0626% |
| 1961 |
176 |
2,191 |
0.1161% |
| 1962 |
186 |
1,982 |
0.108% |
| 1963 |
208 |
1,678 |
0.0935% |
| 1964 |
178 |
2,101 |
0.1194% |
| 1965 |
187 |
1,799 |
0.11% |
| 1966 |
201 |
1,537 |
0.0984% |
| 1967 |
209 |
1,429 |
0.0942% |
| 1968 |
214 |
1,388 |
0.0924% |
| 1969 |
223 |
1,331 |
0.0864% |
| 1970 |
226 |
1,358 |
0.0853% |
| 1971 |
240 |
1,190 |
0.0792% |
| 1972 |
252 |
1,034 |
0.0759% |
| 1973 |
230 |
1,080 |
0.0833% |
| 1974 |
214 |
1,167 |
0.0898% |
| 1975 |
198 |
1,217 |
0.0947% |
| 1976 |
197 |
1,212 |
0.094% |
| 1977 |
209 |
1,175 |
0.0872% |
| 1978 |
199 |
1,289 |
0.0959% |
| 1979 |
198 |
1,330 |
0.0943% |
| 1980 |
200 |
1,282 |
0.0877% |
| 1981 |
193 |
1,366 |
0.0929% |
| 1982 |
179 |
1,511 |
0.1011% |
| 1983 |
184 |
1,461 |
0.099% |
| 1984 |
168 |
1,614 |
0.1085% |
| 1985 |
164 |
1,738 |
0.1145% |
| 1986 |
157 |
1,777 |
0.1177% |
| 1987 |
135 |
2,032 |
0.1332% |
| 1988 |
122 |
2,307 |
0.148% |
| 1989 |
113 |
2,647 |
0.164% |
| 1990 |
115 |
2,813 |
0.1697% |
| 1991 |
116 |
2,826 |
0.1734% |
| 1992 |
106 |
3,162 |
0.1981% |
| 1993 |
105 |
3,072 |
0.197% |
| 1994 |
95 |
3,435 |
0.2238% |
| 1995 |
92 |
3,790 |
0.2515% |
| 1996 |
79 |
4,458 |
0.2977% |
| 1997 |
75 |
4,431 |
0.2996% |
| 1998 |
75 |
4,259 |
0.2846% |
| 1999 |
71 |
4,463 |
0.298% |
| 2000 |
65 |
5,010 |
0.328% |
| 2001 |
62 |
4,851 |
0.322% |
| 2002 |
67 |
4,640 |
0.3096% |
| 2003 |
68 |
4,572 |
0.3005% |
| 2004 |
74 |
4,369 |
0.2867% |
| 2005 |
83 |
3,963 |
0.2592% |
| 2006 |
89 |
3,780 |
0.2414% |
| 2007 |
99 |
3,390 |
0.2149% |
| 2008 |
94 |
3,534 |
0.2287% |
| 2009 |
87 |
3,610 |
0.2415% |
| 2010 |
88 |
3,347 |
0.2323% |
| 2011 |
87 |
3,355 |
0.2355% |
| 2012 |
81 |
3,403 |
0.2388% |
| 2013 |
63 |
3,976 |
0.2793% |
| 2014 |
58 |
4,339 |
0.2978% |
| 2015 |
62 |
4,313 |
0.2964% |
| 2016 |
56 |
4,422 |
0.3067% |
| 2017 |
55 |
4,270 |
0.3059% |
| 2018 |
55 |
4,127 |
0.3004% |
| 2019 |
61 |
3,895 |
0.2877% |
| 2020 |
72 |
3,285 |
0.2581% |
| 2021 |
79 |
2,958 |
0.242% |
| 2022 |
77 |
3,005 |
0.2278% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Caroline
If you like Caroline, you’ll love these other names like Caroline.
What names are diminutives of Caroline?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Caroline sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Caroline, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Caddy
|
Clarity, whiteness; free man
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Callie
|
Beautiful one
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Carey
|
Love
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Cari
|
Love
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Carla
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Carley
|
Free man
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Carly
|
Free man
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Carol
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Carri
|
Free man; pure
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Carrie
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Carry
|
Beloved; friend; free man
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Cary
|
Love; free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Karla
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Karli
|
Free man
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Karlie
|
Free man
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Leena
|
Light; free man; palm tree
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Lina
|
Palm tree
|
Latin
|
|
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What names are variants of Caroline?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Caroline.
What names sound like Caroline?
If you like how Caroline sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Caroline.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Adeline
|
Noble one
|
German
|
|
|
|
Carling
|
Little champion
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Carolena
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
What names are similar to Caroline?
Find a name that’s like Caroline, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Alice
|
Of nobility
|
German
|
|
|
|
Beatrice
|
Voyager (through life); blessed
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Bethany
|
House of figs
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth
|
God is my oath
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Grace
|
Gracious one
|
English
|
|
|
|
Helen
|
Sun ray, shining light
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Lucille
|
Of the light
|
French
|
|
|
|
Meredith
|
Great, noted ruler
|
Welsh
|
|
|
Lists With Caroline
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Caroline.
Siblings of Caroline
Mamas with kids named Caroline also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
James
|
Supplanter
|
English
|
|
|
