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Carolene
How to Pronounce Carolene
Pronounced KAIR-uh-leen /ˈkær.ə.liːn/Medium
Meaning: Carolene is a variant of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, from the Germanic karl, 'free man'. The -lene ending recasts Caroline in the melodic mid-century style of Charlene and Darlene.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Carolene is a variant of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, from Germanic karl, 'free man'. Its -lene ending places it among the mid-century wave of musical American names like Charlene and Darlene, giving the classic Caroline a fresh, softer sound.
It was never common, appearing at a few dozen girls a year with a faint peak around 1938 before fading by the 1970s. Carolene reads as a gentle mid-century take on Caroline; while Caroline itself stays perennially popular, this -lene variant has not been revived.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Carolene mean?
Carolene is a variant of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, meaning 'free man'.
How do you pronounce Carolene?
It's said KAIR-uh-leen /ˈkær.ə.liːn/ - three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Carolene a boy or girl name?
Carolene is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Carolene?
Carolene has always been rare, a mid-century -lene take on Caroline that never became widely used.