Caroline first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Caroline has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Caroline

A feminine name of French origin meaning "woman" or "little woman".

Popularity of Caroline by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Caroline is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Caroline being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,859 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Caroline.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 2,859
2022 0 3,015
2021 0 3,197
2020 0 3,360
2019 0 3,915
2018 0 4,165
2017 0 4,290
2016 0 4,436
2015 0 4,333
2014 6 4,346
2013 0 3,983
2012 0 3,420
2011 0 3,369
2010 0 3,359
2009 0 3,624
2008 12 3,543
2007 0 3,408
2006 0 3,789
2005 7 3,973
2004 13 4,378
2003 0 4,585
2002 0 4,657
2001 8 4,864
2000 7 5,022
1999 6 4,474
1998 6 4,276
1997 5 4,439
1996 0 4,466
1995 0 3,800
1994 7 3,451
1993 0 3,083
1992 7 3,176
1991 0 2,843
1990 14 2,819
1989 30 2,661
1988 8 2,325
1987 11 2,046
1986 5 1,804
1985 5 1,751
1984 10 1,632
1983 0 1,484
1982 7 1,536
1981 9 1,391
1980 5 1,314
1979 5 1,353
1978 5 1,308
1977 0 1,205
1976 9 1,227
1975 0 1,231
1974 7 1,197

The history of the first name Caroline

The name Caroline has its origins in the French language, derived from the Germanic name Karlina, which is a feminine form of the name Karl, meaning "free man." The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 8th century AD.

It gained widespread popularity after the 12th century, when it was adopted as a feminine form of Carolus, the Latin rendition of the name Charles. This was likely influenced by the veneration of St. Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, who ruled from 768 to 814 AD.

In ancient times, the name was associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest known bearers was Caroline of Ansbach, born in 1683, who became the Queen of Great Britain as the wife of King George II. Another prominent Caroline was Caroline Herschel, born in 1750, who was a renowned astronomer and the first woman to be paid for her contributions to science.

During the Renaissance period, the name gained further recognition with the birth of Caroline Lucretia Herschel in 1782, who was a talented composer and singer. In the 19th century, Caroline Norton, born in 1808, was a prominent social reformer who campaigned for the rights of women and children.

Another famous Caroline was Caroline Shawk Brooks, born in 1840, who was a celebrated American poet and literary critic. Her works were widely acclaimed for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into human nature.

Throughout history, the name Caroline has been borne by many influential figures, spanning various fields such as politics, science, arts, and literature. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its rich cultural heritage and its association with strength, independence, and intellect.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Caroline was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caroline, please contact us.

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"Caroline first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/caroline-meaning-and-history/.

"Caroline first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/caroline-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Caroline first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/caroline-meaning-and-history/.

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