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Caroline

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAIR-uh-line /ˈkɛr.ə.laɪn/High

Meaning: Free woman; strong and free — feminine form of Carolus/Charles, from Old High German Karl (free man)High

In 30 seconds: The elegant Latinate feminine form of Charles meaning 'free woman,' Caroline has graced European royalty for centuries and remains a timeless top-100 American girls' name.
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Origin HighLatin, Old High German
MeaningFree woman; strong and free — feminine form of Carolus/Charles, from Old High German Karl (free man)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 224,389

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Caroline is a Latinate feminine form of Carolus (Latin for Charles), itself from Old High German Karl, meaning 'free man.' The name was borne by several European queens including Caroline of Ansbach (1683–1737), Queen of Great Britain.

Caroline has been in continuous fashion in English-speaking countries since the 18th century. It has been a perennial U.S. top-100 girls' name, with the song Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond (1969) adding to its cultural warmth.

Did you know? Three American states — North Carolina and South Carolina — bear a Latinized form of the name Charles, indirectly linking them to the same root as Caroline.

Variations

CarolinaCarolynCarolinKarolina

Nicknames

CarrieCarolCallieLina

Famous Bearers

  • ★Caroline Kennedy (1957–)
    American author and diplomat, daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

If you like Caroline…

Charlotte— French royal feminine of the same Charles root with identical pedigree
Josephine— long French royal classic with the same aristocratic grace
Victoria— royal Latin classic with the same formal elegance and European history
Eleanor— vintage royal classic with the same three-syllable dignified flow

Frequently Asked

What does the name Caroline mean?

Caroline is the feminine form of Charles, from the Old High German Karl, meaning 'free man,' so Caroline means 'free woman.'

How do you pronounce Caroline?

It is said KAIR-uh-line /ˈkɛr.ə.laɪn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Caroline a boy or girl name?

Caroline is used exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Caroline?

Caroline has been a consistent U.S. top-100 girls' name for many decades.