Carolyn
#1,222 for girls in 2025, 185 births · Last seen for boys in 1995 at #7,792
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1942 · 19,978 births
- Debut · girls
- 80 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 44 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 556,777since 1880
Carolyn over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #1,222 | 185 | — | |
| 2024 | #1,160 | 207 | — | |
| 2023 | #1,085 | 228 | — | |
| 2022 | #1,239 | 194 | — | |
| 2021 | #1,129 | 218 | — | |
| 2020 | #947 | 270 | — | |
| 2019 | #936 | 282 | — | |
| 2018 | #865 | 313 | — | |
| 2017 | #832 | 326 | — | |
| 2016 | #808 | 352 | — | |
| 2015 | #748 | 377 | — | |
| 2014 | #746 | 375 | — | |
| 2013 | #784 | 347 | — | |
| 2012 | #765 | 361 | — | |
| 2011 | #742 | 371 | — | |
| 2010 | #736 | 378 | — | |
| 2009 | #683 | 426 | — | |
| 2008 | #678 | 448 | — | |
| 2007 | #606 | 495 | — | |
| 2006 | #517 | 587 | — | |
| 2005 | #488 | 626 | — | |
| 2004 | #417 | 731 | — | |
| 2003 | #430 | 701 | — | |
| 2002 | #365 | 822 | — | |
| 2001 | #346 | 870 | — | |
| 2000 | #308 | 1,031 | — | |
| 1999 | #297 | 1,037 | — | |
| 1998 | #327 | 901 | — | |
| 1997 | #276 | 1,061 | — | |
| 1996 | #233 | 1,210 | — | |
| 1995 | #242 | 1,175 | #7,792 | 6 |
| 1994 | #230 | 1,230 | — | |
| 1993 | #200 | 1,479 | — | |
| 1992 | #196 | 1,518 | — | |
| 1991 | #193 | 1,559 | #6,519 | 7 |
| 1990 | #169 | 1,714 | #5,382 | 9 |
| 1989 | #158 | 1,809 | #3,325 | 17 |
| 1988 | #158 | 1,802 | #5,200 | 8 |
| 1987 | #149 | 1,813 | #3,959 | 11 |
| 1986 | #162 | 1,733 | #3,882 | 11 |
| 1985 | #155 | 1,837 | #4,052 | 10 |
| 1984 | #155 | 1,825 | #4,215 | 9 |
| 1983 | #150 | 1,914 | #3,884 | 10 |
| 1982 | #146 | 2,009 | #4,593 | 8 |
| 1981 | #144 | 1,958 | #3,858 | 10 |
| 1980 | #147 | 1,928 | #4,940 | 7 |
| 1979 | #138 | 2,053 | #4,842 | 7 |
| 1978 | #130 | 2,176 | #3,614 | 10 |
| 1977 | #129 | 2,197 | #3,386 | 11 |
| 1976 | #129 | 2,115 | #4,935 | 6 |
| 1975 | #119 | 2,346 | #4,309 | 7 |
| 1974 | #118 | 2,471 | #3,837 | 8 |
| 1973 | #116 | 2,569 | #3,013 | 11 |
| 1972 | #110 | 2,992 | #2,659 | 13 |
| 1971 | #104 | 3,609 | #3,963 | 7 |
| 1970 | #84 | 4,518 | #2,621 | 13 |
| 1969 | #71 | 5,129 | #2,046 | 17 |
| 1968 | #61 | 5,538 | #2,030 | 16 |
| 1967 | #60 | 5,719 | #1,507 | 26 |
| 1966 | #60 | 6,121 | #1,723 | 20 |
| 1965 | #58 | 6,965 | #1,669 | 22 |
| 1964 | #56 | 8,066 | #1,545 | 26 |
| 1963 | #56 | 8,124 | #1,375 | 32 |
| 1962 | #46 | 9,692 | #1,479 | 28 |
| 1961 | #42 | 10,509 | #1,602 | 25 |
| 1960 | #43 | 9,403 | #1,619 | 25 |
| 1959 | #42 | 9,727 | #1,360 | 33 |
| 1958 | #37 | 10,814 | #1,370 | 32 |
| 1957 | #33 | 11,575 | #1,583 | 25 |
| 1956 | #33 | 10,634 | #1,362 | 32 |
| 1955 | #30 | 11,179 | #1,370 | 31 |
| 1954 | #27 | 12,153 | #1,382 | 30 |
| 1953 | #25 | 12,919 | #1,378 | 30 |
| 1952 | #24 | 14,272 | #1,195 | 38 |
| 1951 | #22 | 15,206 | #1,242 | 35 |
| 1950 | #20 | 15,588 | #1,464 | 25 |
| 1949 | #17 | 17,404 | #1,348 | 29 |
| 1948 | #14 | 18,623 | #1,127 | 40 |
| 1947 | #15 | 20,742 | #1,064 | 46 |
| 1946 | #12 | 19,902 | #980 | 47 |
| 1945 | #12 | 17,244 | #899 | 50 |
| 1944 | #11 | 18,670 | #745 | 69 |
| 1943 | #11 | 20,365 | #740 | 76 |
| 1942 | #10 | 19,978 | #839 | 60 |
| 1941 | #11 | 16,273 | #817 | 60 |
| 1940 | #15 | 12,657 | #939 | 46 |
| 1939 | #14 | 11,290 | #992 | 41 |
| 1938 | #15 | 10,586 | #1,009 | 40 |
| 1937 | #20 | 8,941 | #942 | 44 |
| 1936 | #23 | 7,906 | #1,205 | 30 |
| 1935 | #28 | 6,967 | #1,422 | 23 |
| 1934 | #33 | 6,472 | #1,461 | 22 |
| 1933 | #40 | 5,043 | #1,586 | 19 |
| 1932 | #46 | 4,587 | #1,995 | 14 |
| 1931 | #60 | 4,008 | #1,770 | 17 |
| 1930 | #72 | 3,725 | #1,644 | 20 |
| 1929 | #77 | 3,272 | #2,589 | 10 |
| 1928 | #91 | 2,847 | #2,843 | 9 |
| 1927 | #99 | 2,806 | #3,151 | 8 |
| 1926 | #114 | 2,415 | — | |
| 1925 | #127 | 2,189 | #2,936 | 9 |
| 1924 | #127 | 2,222 | #4,347 | 5 |
| 1923 | #132 | 2,010 | #3,467 | 7 |
| 1922 | #144 | 1,706 | — | |
| 1921 | #146 | 1,753 | — | |
| 1920 | #150 | 1,556 | — | |
| 1919 | #165 | 1,330 | — | |
| 1918 | #167 | 1,329 | — | |
| 1917 | #164 | 1,223 | #3,981 | 5 |
| 1916 | #163 | 1,216 | — | |
| 1915 | #168 | 1,096 | #2,458 | 10 |
| 1914 | #169 | 835 | — | |
| 1913 | #170 | 676 | — | |
| 1912 | #189 | 517 | — | |
| 1911 | #185 | 387 | — | |
| 1910 | #199 | 331 | — | |
| 1909 | #194 | 299 | — | |
| 1908 | #200 | 280 | — | |
| 1907 | #254 | 184 | — | |
| 1906 | #235 | 184 | — | |
| 1905 | #213 | 210 | — | |
| 1904 | #227 | 183 | — | |
| 1903 | #241 | 157 | — | |
| 1902 | #224 | 179 | — | |
| 1901 | #237 | 148 | — | |
| 1900 | #231 | 185 | — | |
| 1899 | #231 | 141 | — | |
| 1898 | #225 | 169 | — | |
| 1897 | #227 | 145 | — | |
| 1896 | #227 | 149 | — | |
| 1895 | #227 | 148 | — | |
| 1894 | #219 | 147 | — | |
| 1893 | #211 | 146 | — | |
| 1892 | #239 | 122 | — | |
| 1891 | #230 | 110 | — | |
| 1890 | #217 | 124 | — | |
| 1889 | #199 | 133 | — | |
| 1888 | #203 | 123 | — | |
| 1887 | #208 | 97 | — | |
| 1886 | #222 | 82 | — | |
| 1885 | #208 | 86 | — | |
| 1884 | #218 | 75 | — | |
| 1883 | #234 | 58 | — | |
| 1882 | #217 | 62 | — | |
| 1881 | #195 | 60 | — | |
| 1880 | #163 | 80 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Carolyn was already there! It came in at #163, and was given to 80 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1886, when fewer than 87 girls a year got the name.
Where Carolyn is popular in 1948
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Arkansas#5 · 1 in 41
- North Carolina#6 · 1 in 46
- Virginia#6 · 1 in 46
- Kentucky#6 · 1 in 48
- Tennessee#7 · 1 in 43
Best ever in a state: #4 in Oklahoma, 1942.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | #5 | 552 | 1 in 41 |
| Kentucky | #6 | 727 | 1 in 48 |
| North Carolina | #6 | 1,104 | 1 in 46 |
| Virginia | #6 | 779 | 1 in 46 |
| Oklahoma | #7 | 436 | 1 in 50 |
| Tennessee | #7 | 883 | 1 in 43 |
| Texas | #7 | 1,358 | 1 in 67 |
| Alabama | #8 | 685 | 1 in 55 |
| Florida | #8 | 423 | 1 in 63 |
| Louisiana | #8 | 521 | 1 in 62 |
| South Carolina | #8 | 423 | 1 in 65 |
| West Virginia | #8 | 534 | 1 in 45 |
| Georgia | #9 | 673 | 1 in 63 |
| Mississippi | #10 | 398 | 1 in 72 |
| Maryland | #11 | 328 | 1 in 69 |
| Missouri | #12 | 614 | 1 in 63 |
| District of Columbia | #13 | 168 | 1 in 66 |
| Indiana | #15 | 526 | 1 in 78 |
| Kansas | #16 | 239 | 1 in 74 |
| Ohio | #17 | 961 | 1 in 88 |
| Utah | #17 | 93 | 1 in 89 |
| Delaware | #18 | 37 | 1 in 77 |
| Arizona | #19 | 80 | 1 in 109 |
| Idaho | #20 | 68 | 1 in 89 |
| Oregon | #20 | 147 | 1 in 100 |
| Wyoming | #20 | 29 | 1 in 89 |
| Colorado | #21 | 136 | 1 in 107 |
| Hawaii | #21 | 47 | 1 in 113 |
| California | #22 | 925 | 1 in 120 |
| New Mexico | #22 | 75 | 1 in 113 |
| Michigan | #24 | 565 | 1 in 123 |
| Washington | #24 | 187 | 1 in 133 |
| Alaska | #25 | 11 | 1 in 85 |
| Illinois | #25 | 656 | 1 in 128 |
| New Jersey | #26 | 312 | 1 in 137 |
| Nebraska | #27 | 126 | 1 in 104 |
| Nevada | #27 | 11 | 1 in 101 |
| Iowa | #28 | 239 | 1 in 111 |
| Pennsylvania | #28 | 714 | 1 in 145 |
| Connecticut | #29 | 132 | 1 in 135 |
| South Dakota | #29 | 51 | 1 in 132 |
| Montana | #30 | 41 | 1 in 143 |
| Vermont | #35 | 28 | 1 in 124 |
| Minnesota | #37 | 177 | 1 in 180 |
| Maine | #41 | 59 | 1 in 156 |
| New York | #43 | 794 | 1 in 178 |
| Wisconsin | #43 | 190 | 1 in 189 |
| Rhode Island | #44 | 46 | 1 in 158 |
| Massachusetts | #47 | 251 | 1 in 183 |
| North Dakota | #50 | 33 | 1 in 204 |
| New Hampshire | #53 | 31 | 1 in 173 |
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 Carolyn
- 62 spots since 2024 (#1,160 → #1,222)
- 275 spots since 2020 (#947 → #1,222)
- 474 spots since 2015 (#748 → #1,222)
- Biggest jump: 54 spots in 1908 (#254 → #200)
- Biggest drop: 182 spots in 2021 (#947 → #1,129)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1942 at #10 (19,978 births)
- Births halved by 1959, 17 yrs later
- Top 10: 1 yr · 1942
- Top 100: 44 yrs · run 1927–1970
- Top 1,000: 141 yrs · run 1880–2020
- Highest: 1 in 68 girls born in 1942 were named Carolyn (1.5%)
- Latest: 1 in 8,688 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
- 32.7% of all girls named Carolyn (181,858) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 856 | #163 (1880) | #207 |
| 1890s | 1,401 | #211 (1893) | #225 |
| 1900s | 2,009 | #194 (1909) | #226 |
| 1910s | 8,940 | #163 (1916) | #174 |
| 1920s | 22,776 | #77 (1929) | #121 |
| 1930s | 69,525 | #14 (1939) | #35 |
| 1940s | 181,858 | #10 (1942) | #13 |
| 1950s | 124,067 | #20 (1950) | #29 |
| 1960s | 75,266 | #42 (1961) | #55 |
| 1970s | 27,046 | #84 (1970) | #118 |
| 1980s | 18,628 | #144 (1981) | #152 |
| 1990s | 12,884 | #169 (1990) | #236 |
| 2000s | 6,737 | #308 (2000) | #484 |
| 2010s | 3,482 | #736 (2010) | #796 |
| 2020s | 1,302 | #947 (2020) | #1,130 |
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.
Carolyn in 1948
Top girls' names in 1948
Top boys' names in 1948
More about 1948
girls
1,697,908 girls got a published name in 1948; 1 in 91 of them was named Carolyn, which outranked 99.8% of the 6,040 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 25.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,754,618 boys got a published name in 1948; 1 in 43,865 of them was named Carolyn, which outranked 73.2% of the 4,199 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,107Tex41
- #1,107Waldo41
- #1,107Wyman41
- #1,127Carolyn40
- #1,127Arvid40
- #1,127Cole40
- #1,127Darel40
- #1,145Adan39
- #1,145Brenda39
- #1,145Clovis39
Tied with 17 names at #1,127; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.