Carolyn

Meaning: Free man
Origin: Germanic — Variant of Caroline

Girl's name · #1222 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Carolyn belongs to an older America first — it reached #10 back in 1942 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1222. About 557,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Carolyn is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 26 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Carolyn ranks in other countries and regions.

#3,044 in Canada (2025) · #5,022 in Ecuador (2025) · #8,594 in Italy (2024) · #3,599 in England & Wales (2023) · #1,792 in Sweden (2022) · #1,264 in Austria (2013) · #665 in Scotland (2012) · #907 in Ireland (2012) · #3,609 in France (2007) · #396 in Puerto Rico (2006) · #372 in N. Ireland (2004) · #967 in Belgium (2000) and 3 more.

Famous Carolyns

Carolyn Bertozzi — American chemist (born 1966)
Carolyn S. Shoemaker — American astronomer (1929–2021)
Carolyn Porco — American planetary scientist (born 1953)
Carolyn Jones — American actress (1930–1983)
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy — Wife of John F. Kennedy Jr (1966–1999)

In stories & tradition

Carolyn Barek — Character on the TV show Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Carolyn Lam^es — Stargate SG-1 (TV series)
Carolyn Stoddard — Dark Shadows (TV series)

What Carolyns become

Among 877 notable people named Carolyn:

Scientists & scholars appear 1.4× more often than among typical names — e.g. Carolyn Bertozzi, American chemist (born 1966).

Similar names: Karoline · Ann · Kathleen · Barbara · Charlene · Rosalyn

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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