Caroline Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Caroline is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Caroline?
Caroline is spelled C-A-R-O-L-I-N-E. The name has 8 letters.
Caroline at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Caroline is derived from the masculine name Charles, which means “free man.”
- Origin
- Caroline is commonly associated with French and English usage and may derive from the Germanic name Karl or Charles.
- Pronunciation
- CARE-uh-line · 3 syllables
Caroline Popularity in 2025
Rank#96
Recorded Births2,646
- Girls usage fell 4 places to #96 and recorded 84 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Caroline Mean?
Caroline is derived from the masculine name Charles, which means “free man.”
Origin: Caroline is commonly associated with French and English usage and may derive from the Germanic name Karl or Charles.
How Do You Pronounce Caroline?
PronunciationCARE-uh-line
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Caroline?
- History
- Caroline has been used in European royal families and literature since at least the 17th century, although exact origins are uncertain.
Caroline Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2005 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 2,646 | #96 |
| 2024 | Girls | 2,730 | #92 |
| 2023 | Girls | 2,868 | #83 |
| 2022 | Girls | 3,030 | #77 |
| 2021 | Girls | 3,204 | #80 |
| 2020 | Girls | 3,364 | #71 |
| 2019 | Girls | 3,920 | #61 |
| 2018 | Girls | 4,167 | #56 |
| 2017 | Girls | 4,294 | #55 |
| 2016 | Girls | 4,437 | #56 |
| 2015 | Girls | 4,333 | #62 |
| 2014 | Girls | 4,348 | #59 |
| 2014 | Boys | 6 | #10,717 |
| 2013 | Girls | 3,983 | #63 |
| 2012 | Girls | 3,421 | #80 |
| 2011 | Girls | 3,370 | #87 |
| 2010 | Girls | 3,360 | #88 |
| 2009 | Girls | 3,624 | #87 |
| 2008 | Girls | 3,545 | #94 |
| 2008 | Boys | 12 | #6,763 |
| 2007 | Girls | 3,409 | #99 |
| 2006 | Girls | 3,791 | #89 |
| 2005 | Girls | 3,974 | #83 |
| 2005 | Boys | 7 | #9,115 |
When Was Caroline Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2000 · Girls
5,022 recorded births
National rank #65
2001 · Girls
4,864 recorded births
National rank #62
2002 · Girls
4,657 recorded births
National rank #67
2003 · Girls
4,585 recorded births
National rank #68
Where Caroline Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AL | #20 | 103 |
| DC | #21 | 18 |
| TN | #31 | 139 |
| AR | #35 | 48 |
| KY | #38 | 76 |
| LA | #44 | 63 |
| SC | #45 | 72 |
| NC | #48 | 162 |