Find out how popular the first name Carrol has been for the last 29 years (from 1974 to 2002) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Carrol by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Carrol is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 55% of people named Carrol being female.

For the most recent data in 2002, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Carrol.

The history of the first name Carrol

The name Carrol is an English variant of the French name Charles, which is derived from the Germanic name Karl. The name Karl originates from the Old High German word "karal," meaning "man" or "male." It was a popular name among the Frankish nobility in the early Middle Ages.

The name Charles gained widespread popularity in Europe due to the fame of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor, who reigned from 768 to 814 CE. Charlemagne's name was a Frankish rendition of the Latin name "Carolus," which itself was derived from the Germanic "Karl."

The variant spelling "Carrol" emerged in England during the late Middle Ages, possibly as a result of regional dialects or scribal errors. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carrol is in the Middle English romance poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," written around 1400 CE.

Among the notable historical figures named Carrol are:

1. Carrol Quigley (1910-1977), an American historian and theorist best known for his book "Tragedy and Hope," which explored the role of secret societies in shaping world events.

2. Carrol Shelby (1923-2012), an American automotive designer and racing driver who founded the Shelby American company and created the iconic Shelby Cobra sports car.

3. Carrol O'Connor (1924-2001), an American actor best known for his role as Archie Bunker in the television series "All in the Family," for which he won four Emmy Awards.

4. Carrol Borland (1913-1994), an American actress and dancer who appeared in several horror films, including "Mark of the Vampire" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

5. Carrol Vertrees (1888-1976), an American composer and pianist who wrote numerous ragtime compositions and was a member of the Tin Pan Alley group of songwriters.

While the name Carrol has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has maintained a presence, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a variant spelling of the more common name Charles.

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

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

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