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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Free man (feminine French form of Charles)
- Origin
- French, from Latin Carolina/Carolus, ultimately Germanic
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- KAIR-oh-lyn
Caroline is the French feminine form of Charles, tracing back through the Latin Carolina and Carolus to a Germanic root meaning "free man." It's pronounced KAIR-oh-lyn, and it has a romantic, storybook, timeless, classic feel, with U.S. usage on record from 1880 through 2024. If you're weighing it for a daughter, it's a name with a long, continuous paper trail rather than a recent invention.
Meaning & Origin of Caroline
Meaning: Free man (feminine French form of Charles).
Origin: French, from Latin Carolina/Carolus, ultimately Germanic.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Caroline
KAIR-oh-lynIPA /ˈkærəlaɪn/
Popularity of Caroline
Caroline hit its highest point in 2017, ranking #55 with 4,294 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #92 with 2,720 babies, still a well-used name but past its peak.
Names Like Caroline
These names share Caroline’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Caroline mean?
Free man (feminine French form of Charles). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Caroline?
Caroline is pronounced KAIR-oh-lyn (IPA: /ˈkærəlaɪn/).
Is Caroline a popular name right now?
Caroline peaked at #55 in 2017 and is ranked #92 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Caroline Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Caroline, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Caroline? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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