At a Glance: Name: Carolyn – Meaning: free man – Origin: Germanic (variant of Caroline, from Carolus/Charles) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: KAIR-uh-lin
Carolyn is a Germanic (variant of Caroline, from Carolus/Charles) girl's name meaning “free man”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Carolyn
Meaning: Free man.
Origin: Germanic (variant of Caroline, from Carolus/Charles).
A common claim: Sometimes explained (especially on Christmas-themed lists) as meaning "joyful song," apparently by association with the word "carol." Actually: This is a false etymology based on the coincidental resemblance to "carol" (song); Carolyn actually derives from Charles/Carolus (Germanic 'free man'), unrelated to caroling.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Carolyn
Phonetic: KAIR-uh-lin IPA: /ˈkærəlɪn/
Popularity of Carolyn
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Lists That Include Carolyn
Similar Names
Nico · Bliss · Cressida · Aurelius · Seren · Joy
