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

Popularity of Carolyn by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 224 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Carolyn.

The history of the first name Carolyn

The name Carolyn has its origins in the Germanic languages and is derived from the masculine name Charles, which itself comes from the Germanic name Karl. The name Karl is believed to have originated from the Old High German word "karal," meaning "man" or "husband."

Carolyn is a feminine form of Charles that emerged in the Middle Ages. It was initially used as a diminutive or pet name for women named Caroletta or Caroline. Over time, Carolyn became a distinct and widely-used name in its own right.

The earliest known historical reference to the name Carolyn can be traced back to the 13th century. A record from 1275 mentions a woman named Carolyn de Berkeley, who was a member of the noble Berkeley family in Gloucestershire, England.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Carolyn was Carolyn Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1683-1737), a German princess and the second wife of George II of Great Britain.

Another prominent figure was Carolyn Herschel (1750-1848), a German-born British astronomer. She was the sister of the renowned astronomer William Herschel and made significant contributions to the field, including the discovery of several comets.

In literature, Carolyn is the name of a character in the novel "The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton, published in 1920. The character, Carolyn Olenska, is a woman who challenges the social norms of her time.

In the field of music, Carolyn Leigh (1926-1983) was an American lyricist and singer-songwriter. She wrote the lyrics for several popular songs, including "The Best Is Yet to Come" and "Young at Heart."

Another notable Carolyn was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (1966-1999), an American public relations executive who was married to John F. Kennedy Jr. She tragically died in a plane crash along with her husband and her sister-in-law.

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 Carolyn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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