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Caroll
How to Pronounce Caroll
Pronounced KAIR-uhl /ˈkær.əl/High
Meaning: Caroll is a spelling variant of Carol, which began as a short form of Caroline — the feminine of Charles, from a Germanic word for a free man. Carol also carries the sense of a joyful song. The doubled -ll gives Caroll a surname-like look while the meaning stays with Charles.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
Caroll is a variant of Carol, itself a clipped form of Caroline, the feminine of Charles from the Germanic for a free man. The word carol also means a festive song, adding a cheerful overtone. The Caroll spelling echoes the Irish surname Carroll without changing the sense.
Caroll crested around 1946, right in the Carol boom that followed the Second World War, then faded with the whole Carol family. A woman given it then is in her seventies now. The plain Carol spelling was always far more common, and Caroll now reads as a dated variant of a mid-century staple.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Caroll mean?
Caroll is a variant of Carol, from Caroline and ultimately Charles, meaning 'free man'.
How do you pronounce Caroll?
It's said KAIR-uhl /ˈkær.əl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Caroll a boy or girl name?
Caroll is used as a girl's name, a variant of Carol.
How popular is Caroll?
Caroll is an uncommon variant that peaked in the mid-nineteen-forties during the Carol boom and faded with it.