Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Carolina
GirlLatin, Germanic· “feminine form of Charles, 'free man'”
- Meaning
- feminine form of Charles, 'free man'
- Origin
- Latin, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- kehr-uh-LY-nuh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #405
- US babies 2025
- 769
- Best rank
- #254 (2004)
- Peak year
- 2004
Meaning and origin of Carolina
Carolina is a Latin and Germanic name that means “feminine form of Charles, 'free man'”.
Carolina is the Latin feminine form of Carolus, the Latin version of Charles, which traces back to a Germanic word meaning free man. The name spread across Europe in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and it is pronounced with a long I in English and a long E in Spanish. English speakers also know it from the Carolinas, the two American states named in honor of King Charles I of England. The result is a name that feels both classic and sunny, a longer alternative to Caroline, with nicknames like Lina, Carly and Caro.
Other spellings with the same sound: Karolina.
Popularity over time
Carolina has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 144 different years. Its best national rank was #254 in 2004, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,270 babies. In 2025, 769 babies were named Carolina, and it ranked #405 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #623 in 1920, #869 in 1950, #467 in 1980, #267 in 2000, #389 in 2010, and #405 in 2025. Of the 47,971 US girls named Carolina since records began, 23% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 9,848 babies. Since 2010, 11,673 more have been named Carolina.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kira, Perla, Estrella, Kailey, and Annika.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Carolina ranked highest in Texas, California, and South Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #167 | 196 |
| California | #243 | 137 |
| South Carolina | #300 | 17 |
| Arizona | #308 | 23 |
| Florida | #313 | 59 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Carolina is usually pronounced kehr-uh-LY-nuh, with four syllables. It has eight letters, starts with C and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Karolina.
Middle names for Carolina
A few middle names that flow with Carolina: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Carolina
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Lists that include Carolina
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carolina mean?
Carolina is a Latin and Germanic name that means “feminine form of Charles, 'free man'”.
What is the origin of the name Carolina?
Carolina has Latin, Germanic, and Spanish roots. Carolina is the Latin feminine form of Carolus, the Latin version of Charles, which traces back to a Germanic word meaning free man.
Is Carolina a popular name?
Yes. Carolina ranked #405 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Carolina a boy or girl name?
Carolina is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Carolina?
Carolina is usually pronounced kehr-uh-LY-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings