At a Glance: Name: Carol – Meaning: free person – Origin: English (short form of Caroline/Charles, from Latin Carolus, ultimately Germanic) – Gender: Unisex – Pronunciation: KAIR-uhl
Carol is an English (short form of Caroline/Charles, from Latin Carolus, ultimately Germanic) unisex name meaning “free person”. It appears in 3 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Carol
Meaning: Free person.
Origin: English (short form of Caroline/Charles, from Latin Carolus, ultimately Germanic).
A common claim: means 'song of joy,' like a Christmas carol Actually: This is a folk etymology: the name Carol is unrelated to the word 'carol' (a song, from Old French carole, a round dance). Carol as a name comes from Caroline/Charles and means 'free person.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Carol
Phonetic: KAIR-uhl IPA: /ˈkærəl/
Popularity of Carol
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Lists That Include Carol
- 200+ Retro Baby Girl Names Making a Chic Comeback
- Christmas Baby Names for Your Holiday Babe
- Noel-Inspired Baby Names for December Babies
Similar Names
Donna · Betty · Holly · Ivy · Noelle · Noel
