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Carolyn

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAIR-uh-lin /ˈkɛər.ə.lɪn/High

Meaning: Free woman; English form of Caroline, feminine of Carolus (Charles), from Germanic karl (free man)High

In 30 seconds: An English form of Caroline meaning 'free woman,' from Germanic Karl/Charles. A top-10 name in the 1940s–1950s, Carolyn now carries the same quiet classic revival energy as Barbara and Patricia.

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Origin HighGermanic, Latin

MeaningFree woman; English form of Caroline, feminine of Carolus (Charles), from Germanic karl (free man)

U.S. rank (2025)#1222 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births185 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1947

Total births (all-time)≈ 556,778

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

Carolyn is an English spelling variant of Caroline, the feminine of Carolus/Karl (Charles), from Germanic karl (free man). Caroline itself derives from French, from the Latinate form Carolus.

Carolyn was in the U.S. top 20 from the 1930s through the 1950s. It declined from the 1960s and now ranks #1163 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Carolyn Kennedy (born 1957), daughter of President JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy, is one of the most famous Carolyns in American life — she served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 2022 to 2025.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Carolyn — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarolineCarolinaKarolyn

Nicknames

CarolCarrieLynn

Famous Bearers

★Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (1966–1999)
American fashion publicist who worked for Calvin Klein and was the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. She died in a 1999 plane crash off Martha's Vineyard.

If you like Carolyn…

Caroline— the standard spelling from which Carolyn derives

Carolina— the -ina Latinate form of the same Charles/Karl root

Carla— the shorter Italian/Spanish feminine of the same root

Linda— mid-century classic from the same generation's naming peak

Barbara— mid-century top-10 name from the same 1940s–50s era

Explore names like Carolyn

By themelatin classic germanic three-syllable feminine mid-century

By meaningFreedom

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Carolyn mean?

Carolyn means 'free woman,' as an English form of Caroline, feminine of Carolus (Charles), from Germanic karl (free man).

How do you pronounce Carolyn?

It's said KAIR-uh-lin — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Carolyn a boy or girl name?

Carolyn is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Carolyn?

Carolyn ranked #1163 for U.S. girls in 2024.