Carol

#2,239 for girls in 2025, 82 births · Last seen for boys in 2009 at #12,491
Given to girls 99.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1941 · 24,187 births
Debut · girls
7 births
In top 100 · girls
44 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
816,928
since 1880

Carol over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201978peak #4, 1941girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2,23982—
2024#2,63766—
2023#2,41574—
2022#2,27782—
2021#2,15487—
2020#1,908100—
2019#1,816112—
2018#1,787114—
2017#1,815114—
2016#1,660129—
2015#1,770118—
2014#1,487150—
2013#1,616133—
2012#1,384168—
2011#1,250191—
2010#1,495150—
2009#1,284189#12,4915
2008#1,130228—
2007#1,048250#8,1739
2006#970270#12,0555
2005#758351#5,57814
2004#850289—
2003#869276—
2002#843274—
2001#831278—
2000#718322—
1999#741302#9,9125
1998#657351—
1997#606374—
1996#565412—
1995#525460—
1994#495501#4,80312
1993#494506#6,8167
1992#413612#4,87211
1991#384672#5,09610
1990#349762#3,77915
1989#338752#2,69023
1988#334741#2,86019
1987#317763#3,20115
1986#310770#2,42922
1985#292841#3,40113
1984#268906#2,70617
1983#251942#3,07114
1982#263944#3,10814
1981#2381,044#2,89815
1980#2321,105#2,36721
1979#2251,163#2,66917
1978#2041,264#2,66916
1977#1981,348#2,55617
1976#1711,492#2,60116
1975#1501,784#2,75114
1974#1392,038#1,98322
1973#1212,457#1,87123
1972#1093,010#1,53531
1971#923,857#1,59730
1970#715,064#1,69926
1969#566,138#1,22142
1968#497,078#1,16542
1967#477,491#1,13243
1966#488,259#1,13143
1965#4210,097#98656
1964#3612,125#1,03553
1963#3312,492#1,02754
1962#2814,523#88974
1961#2416,667#85979
1960#2317,463#82585
1959#2218,140#87576
1958#2019,683#90270
1957#1821,898#80387
1956#1621,408#77092
1955#1522,046#82978
1954#1522,247#75888
1953#1622,290#79880
1952#1224,000#681104
1951#1124,781#667110
1950#926,163#602129
1949#826,780#590132
1948#828,977#602126
1947#633,543#529163
1946#534,284#485174
1945#530,389#430192
1944#530,456#456177
1943#531,686#406231
1942#530,272#372267
1941#424,187#372243
1940#621,759#361253
1939#620,166#347258
1938#619,421#338269
1937#617,336#324278
1936#1014,520#337265
1935#1111,735#379206
1934#1410,273#346252
1933#208,220#327269
1932#326,570#380218
1931#464,892#352246
1930#544,598#384220
1929#634,279#402210
1928#773,349#426195
1927#1062,643#397228
1926#1132,427#461170
1925#1192,286#504146
1924#1322,094#547132
1923#1391,864#620105
1922#1581,522#543133
1921#1661,374#568124
1920#1821,140#609107
1919#200932#73875
1918#1961,011#62098
1917#215798#60397
1916#215789#58598
1915#243596#65778
1914#251437#69754
1913#254332#81834
1912#247324#76532
1911#291181#98212
1910#285185#82214
1909#302142#61519
1908#294146#1,1137
1907#329112#81511
1906#33997#1,0047
1905#35191#1,0916
1904#33098—
1903#38867#73410
1902#35780#1,0136
1901#37861—
1900#39770#1,1626
1899#36165—
1898#39063#1,1215
1897#45342#8527
1896#48736—
1895#40448#9786
1894#51631—
1893#50030—
1892#50329#9566
1891#52424#8416
1890#50826#9945
1889#43930—
1888#55820—
1887#58615—
1886#63313—
1885#65811—
1884#7938#9715
1883——
1882#8136—
1881#53910—
1880#6797—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Carol was already there! It came in at #679, and was given to 7 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1883, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Carol is popular in 1978

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedAKMaine: #167 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 845 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedNHWashington: #253 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,434 girlsWAIdaho: #142 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 608 girlsIDMontana: #157 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 627 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #165 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 724 girlsNDMinnesota: #264 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,769 girlsMNIllinois: #218 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 1,222 girlsILWisconsin: #227 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,448 girlsWIMichigan: #208 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 1,224 girlsMINew York: #193 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 1,003 girlsNYMassachusetts: #180 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,023 girlsMARhode Island: #130 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 538 girlsRIOregon: #216 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,103 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedSDIowa: #245 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,549 girlsIAIndiana: #169 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 892 girlsINOhio: #181 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 999 girlsOHPennsylvania: #175 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 957 girlsPANew Jersey: #178 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 907 girlsNJConnecticut: #216 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,182 girlsCTCalifornia: #245 for girls · 121 births · 1 in 1,267 girlsCAUtah: #253 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,264 girlsUTColorado: #231 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,235 girlsCONebraska: #239 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,403 girlsNEMissouri: #238 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,393 girlsMOKentucky: #178 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 885 girlsKYWest Virginia: #187 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 907 girlsWVVirginia: #168 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 795 girlsVAMaryland: #246 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,404 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Carol, so not publishedDEArizona: #143 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 630 girlsAZNew Mexico: #220 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 909 girlsNMKansas: #225 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,221 girlsKSArkansas: #163 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 786 girlsARTennessee: #205 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,072 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #173 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 809 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #202 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 897 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #155 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 615 girlsDCOklahoma: #171 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 773 girlsOKLouisiana: #397 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,293 girlsLAMississippi: #505 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,067 girlsMSAlabama: #214 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,036 girlsALGeorgia: #164 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 768 girlsGAHawaii: #250 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 910 girlsHITexas: #225 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 1,112 girlsTXFlorida: #180 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 957 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Rhode Island#130 · 1 in 538
  2. Idaho#142 · 1 in 608
  3. Arizona#143 · 1 in 630
  4. District of Columbia#155 · 1 in 615
  5. Montana#157 · 1 in 627

Best ever in a state: #1 in Utah, 1937.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Rhode Island#13081 in 538
Idaho#142111 in 608
Arizona#143261 in 630
District of Columbia#15591 in 615
Montana#15771 in 627
Arkansas#163161 in 786
Georgia#164421 in 768
North Dakota#16561 in 724
Maine#16771 in 845
Virginia#168351 in 795
Indiana#169391 in 892
Oklahoma#171221 in 773
North Carolina#173401 in 809
Pennsylvania#175691 in 957
Kentucky#178271 in 885
New Jersey#178401 in 907
Florida#180461 in 957
Massachusetts#180291 in 1,023
Ohio#181691 in 999
West Virginia#187131 in 907
New York#193981 in 1,003
South Carolina#202191 in 897
Tennessee#205261 in 1,072
Michigan#208471 in 1,224
Alabama#214211 in 1,036
Connecticut#216121 in 1,182
Oregon#216141 in 1,103
Illinois#218581 in 1,222
New Mexico#22091 in 909
Kansas#225111 in 1,221
Texas#225931 in 1,112
Wisconsin#227201 in 1,448
Colorado#231141 in 1,235
Missouri#238221 in 1,393
Nebraska#23971 in 1,403
California#2451211 in 1,267
Iowa#245121 in 1,549
Maryland#246131 in 1,404
Hawaii#25051 in 910
Utah#253121 in 1,264
Washington#253161 in 1,434
Minnesota#264151 in 1,769
Louisiana#397121 in 2,293
Mississippi#50551 in 3,067
Alaska———
Delaware———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Carol
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 398 spots since 2024 (#2,637 → #2,239)
  • 331 spots since 2020 (#1,908 → #2,239)
  • 469 spots since 2015 (#1,770 → #2,239)
  • Biggest jump: 140 spots in 1881 (#679 → #539)
  • Biggest drop: 274 spots in 1882 (#539 → #813)
Rise & fade · girls
61 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1941 at #4 (24,187 births)
  • Births halved by 1965, 24 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 15 yrs
  • Top 10: 15 yrs · run 1936–1950
  • Top 100: 44 yrs · run 1928–1971
  • Top 1,000: 126 yrs · run 1884–2006
Share of babies · girls
1 in 43
  • Highest: 1 in 43 girls born in 1945 were named Carol (2.3%)
  • Latest: 1 in 19,601 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #4 in 1941, was only 1 in 50 (2.0%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1940s
  • 35.8% of all girls named Carol (292,333) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s120#439 (1889)#633
1890s394#361 (1899)#465
1900s964#294 (1908)#347
1910s5,585#196 (1918)#240
1920s22,978#63 (1929)#126
1930s117,731#6 (1939)#21
1940s292,333#4 (1941)#6
1950s222,656#9 (1950)#15
1960s112,333#23 (1960)#39
1970s23,477#71 (1970)#148
1980s8,808#232 (1980)#284
1990s4,952#349 (1990)#523
2000s2,727#718 (2000)#930
2010s1,379#1,250 (2011)#1,608
2020s491#1,908 (2020)#2,272

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Carol in 1978

girls
#204
1,264 births · 1 in 1,212 girls
boys
#2,669
16 births · 1 in 102,615 boys

Top girls' names in 1978

  1. #1Jennifer56,314
  2. #2Melissa28,327
  3. #3Jessica26,102
  4. #4Amy23,213
  5. #5Heather22,270
  6. #6Amanda20,520
  7. #7Angela20,517
  8. #8Sarah19,976
  9. #9Michelle18,856
  10. #10Nicole17,279
  11. #204Carol1,264

Top boys' names in 1978

  1. #1Michael67,127
  2. #2Jason51,600
  3. #3Christopher47,236
  4. #4David40,684
  5. #5James39,894
  6. #6Matthew34,282
  7. #7John34,014
  8. #8Robert33,374
  9. #9Brian29,432
  10. #10Joseph26,663
  11. #2,669Carol16
More about 1978

girls

1,531,859 girls got a published name in 1978; 1 in 1,212 of them was named Carol, which outranked 98.2% of the 11,475 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Carol
  1. #200Caroline1,308
  2. #202Shauna1,267
  3. #203Sonia1,265
  4. #204Carol1,264
  5. #204Sonya1,264
  6. #206Marisa1,257
  7. #207Tricia1,248
  8. #208Kerri1,222

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. ↑ 4,240Aja#4,652 → #412
  2. ↑ 1,987Kiley#2,606 → #619
  3. ↑ 1,951Kylee#2,838 → #887
  4. ↑ 1,785Winter#2,780 → #995
  5. ↑ 1,620Kylie#2,026 → #406
Fallers
  1. ↓ 913Shalon#868 → #1,781
  2. ↓ 760Farah#854 → #1,614
  3. ↓ 519Tennille#462 → #981
  4. ↓ 398Shawnte#740 → #1,138
  5. ↓ 362Farrah#177 → #539

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,641,837 boys got a published name in 1978; 1 in 102,615 of them was named Carol, which outranked 60.5% of the 6,762 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Carol
  1. #2,568Yarnell17
  2. #2,568Yves17
  3. #2,568Zakary17
  4. #2,669Carol16
  5. #2,669Alexi16
  6. #2,669Alvino16
  7. #2,669Ana16
  8. #2,799Aloysius15
  9. #2,799Alpha15
  10. #2,799Americo15

Tied with 129 names at #2,669; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,237Dequan#4,164 → #927
  2. ↑ 626Nicholaus#1,367 → #741
  3. ↑ 617Nicklaus#1,515 → #898
  4. ↑ 578Zebulon#1,476 → #898
  5. ↑ 424Anwar#1,121 → #697
Fallers
  1. ↓ 674Kinte#834 → #1,508
  2. ↓ 668Kunta#572 → #1,240
  3. ↓ 417Telly#732 → #1,149
  4. ↓ 415Lesley#937 → #1,352
  5. ↓ 310Amin#904 → #1,214

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1978 →