Baby Name Popularity Profile

Caroline

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

✦ Free man 🌍 German, Latin traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #96
All-Time Peak Rank #55 Achieved 2017
Total U.S. Births 250,410 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 5,022 births in 2000
💡 The Caroline Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Free man
Language Origin German, Latin
Origin Type multiple
Feminine form of Carolus, the Latinized form of Karl, meaning 'free man'.
Common Nicknames
Carrie Carol Lina
Alternative Spellings
Carolyn
Pronunciation: KAIR-oh-line
Themes & Categories
traditional royal
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Caroline

According to SSA data, Caroline achieved its highest historical rank of #55 in 2017. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2000 with 5,022 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 38.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Caroline across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -38.9% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,022 births in 2000
Years in Top 100 46 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 3,743
1890s: 4,500
1900s: 4,276
1910s: 10,591
1920s: 12,694
1930s: 10,844
1940s: 11,625
1950s: 8,985
1960s: 16,770
1970s: 12,287
1980s: 17,943
1990s: 36,827
2000s: 41,850
2010s: 39,633
2020s: 17,842

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ca-ro-line
Letter Count 8 letters
Spelling Complexity Complex
Length Percentile Longer than 79% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. 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 Caroline.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State South Carolina
Top States South Carolina, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
South Carolina #45 6,433 2000 25.0% Decline
District of Columbia #21 1,941 1995 30.8% Decline
Connecticut #105 4,476 2001 25.0% Decline
Massachusetts #102 9,957 2000 33.3% Decline
North Carolina #48 10,992 2002 15.6% Decline
Virginia #58 8,325 2001 36.9% Decline
Georgia #50 9,548 2000 24.2% Decline
Hawaii Unranked 1,038 1941 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #76 4,919 2000 36.6% Decline
New Hampshire #98 1,014 1993 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #125 654 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #155 1,117 2000 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #241 8,140 2000 35.8% Decline
Louisiana #44 5,259 2016 44.7% Decline
Tennessee #31 6,012 2018 +4.5% Growth
Maine #100 1,226 1994 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #20 4,905 2016 Stable
New York #206 20,293 2000 25.5% Decline
Vermont Unranked 436 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #98 13,392 1918 +7.6% Growth
Colorado #148 2,921 2016 27.8% Decline
Florida #143 8,093 2001 31.1% Decline
Wisconsin #105 4,421 1934 +25.0% Growth
Kentucky #39 3,770 2017 30.3% Decline
Illinois #147 10,682 2001 38.5% Decline
Missouri #63 4,745 2018 +8.6% Growth
North Dakota Unranked 722 1936 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #95 15,920 2016 15.2% Decline
Ohio #95 9,460 2014 22.7% Decline
Minnesota #131 3,727 2003 23.1% Decline
Indiana #68 4,616 2014 14.6% Decline
Kansas #122 2,026 2018 31.6% Decline
Mississippi #50 2,372 2016 44.3% Decline
Alaska Unranked 258 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #78 1,309 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #132 6,727 2003 6.0% Decline
Arkansas #35 1,919 2017 2.0% Decline
Washington #211 2,803 2014 24.4% Decline
California #328 16,579 2000 39.3% Decline
New Mexico Unranked 866 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #158 1,323 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #331 1,938 2017 38.2% Decline
Oregon #245 1,424 2017 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #166 511 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #119 1,981 2015 Stable
West Virginia #93 1,368 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #100 1,940 2017 29.4% Decline
Montana #107 426 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #244 446 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #253 360 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 88 1947 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Gabriel Malachi Nathaniel Nicolas Isaiah Adrian Diego Emmanuel Alejandro Samuel
👧 Sister Suggestions
Savannah Isabelle Madison Abigail Madelyn Addison Natalie Natalia Nevaeh Isabel

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