Hannah Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#56
Caroline
GirlFrench, Germanic· “free man”
- Meaning
- free man
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- KAIR-uh-lyn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #96
- US babies 2025
- 2,646
- Best rank
- #55 (2017)
- Peak year
- 2000
Meaning and origin of Caroline
Caroline is a French and Germanic name that means “free man”.
Caroline is a French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin version of Charles, from the Germanic karl, meaning man or free man. It entered English through royal use: Caroline of Ansbach was queen to George II of Great Britain, and the Carolinas in America take their name from Carolus, honoring King Charles I. The name has an elegant, classic feel with a lyrical rhythm. In the United States it has also been associated with the Kennedy family. Carrie, Caro and Callie are nicknames, and Carolina is the Italian and Spanish form.
Other spellings with the same sound: Karoline.
Popularity over time
Caroline 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 146 different years. Its best national rank was #55 in 2017, and the most babies received it in 2000, when 5,022 were named Caroline. In 2025, 2,646 babies were named Caroline, and it ranked #96 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #159 in 1920, #257 in 1950, #200 in 1980, #65 in 2000, #88 in 2010, and #96 in 2025. Of the 250,410 US girls named Caroline since records began, 17% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 39,633 babies. Since 2010, 57,475 more have been named Caroline.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kiara, Cassidy, Mackenzie, Savannah, and Mckenzie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Caroline ranked highest in Alabama, District of Columbia, and Tennessee.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | #20 | 103 |
| District of Columbia | #21 | 18 |
| Tennessee | #31 | 139 |
| Arkansas | #35 | 48 |
| Kentucky | #39 | 76 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Caroline is usually pronounced KAIR-uh-lyn, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with C and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Karoline.
Middle names for Caroline
A few middle names that flow with Caroline: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Caroline
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Lists that include Caroline
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Caroline mean?
Caroline is a French and Germanic name that means “free man”.
What is the origin of the name Caroline?
Caroline has French and Germanic roots. Caroline is a French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin version of Charles, from the Germanic karl, meaning man or free man.
Is Caroline a popular name?
Yes. Caroline ranked #96 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Caroline a boy or girl name?
Caroline is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Caroline?
Caroline is usually pronounced KAIR-uh-lyn. 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