Baby Name Popularity Profile

Carolina

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Carolina.

✦ Free man 🌍 Latin, Spanish, Italian traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #405
All-Time Peak Rank #254 Achieved 2004
Total U.S. Births 47,971 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 1,270 births in 2004
💡 The Carolina Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Free man
Language Origin Latin, Spanish, Italian
Origin Type multiple
Feminine form of Carolus, the Latinized form of Charles, meaning 'free man'.
Common Nicknames
Carrie Lina Caro
Alternative Spellings
Karolina
Pronunciation: ka-ro-LEE-na
Themes & Categories
traditional royal
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Carolina

According to SSA data, Carolina achieved its highest historical rank of #254 in 2004. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2004 with 1,270 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 5.1%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Carolina across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +5.1% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 1,270 births in 2004
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 52 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 179
1890s: 249
1900s: 375
1910s: 817
1920s: 1,347
1930s: 1,069
1940s: 1,102
1950s: 1,103
1960s: 1,787
1970s: 2,593
1980s: 4,756
1990s: 9,848
2000s: 11,073
2010s: 7,499
2020s: 4,174

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ca-ro-li-na
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 79.0% of SSA names. Starts with C, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Carolina.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Texas
Top States Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico
States with Data 43
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Texas #167 11,377 2001 +9.5% Growth
California #243 11,919 1994 +52.2% Growth
Arizona #308 1,378 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #313 3,596 2000 +9.3% Growth
New Mexico #317 521 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #342 274 2000 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #360 1,231 2006 11.8% Decline
Illinois #326 2,025 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #469 437 2002 Insufficient historical volume
New York #682 2,718 1993 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #429 963 1997 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #300 497 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #456 814 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #394 412 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #530 525 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #581 478 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #567 189 2007 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #560 291 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #551 207 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #656 390 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Utah Unranked 134 2000 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 71 1978 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #738 268 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #727 147 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 108 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #488 178 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #600 101 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #509 143 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #799 133 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #747 271 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #944 366 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #964 147 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 23 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #675 107 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #1167 268 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #814 104 2007 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 27 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 12 2001 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 5 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 7 1941 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 16 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 13 1995 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 5 2021 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Fernando Tristan Joaquin Eduardo Esteban Rodrigo Donovan Israel Damien Jaylen
👧 Sister Suggestions
Gabriela Angelina Julianna Adriana Alivia Maddison Daniella Giselle Jocelyn Mckenna

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