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

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1942 · 19,978 births
Debut · girls
80 births
In top 100 · girls
44 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
556,777
since 1880

Carolyn over time

girls

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

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201977peak #10, 1942girls
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#1,222185—
2024#1,160207—
2023#1,085228—
2022#1,239194—
2021#1,129218—
2020#947270—
2019#936282—
2018#865313—
2017#832326—
2016#808352—
2015#748377—
2014#746375—
2013#784347—
2012#765361—
2011#742371—
2010#736378—
2009#683426—
2008#678448—
2007#606495—
2006#517587—
2005#488626—
2004#417731—
2003#430701—
2002#365822—
2001#346870—
2000#3081,031—
1999#2971,037—
1998#327901—
1997#2761,061—
1996#2331,210—
1995#2421,175#7,7926
1994#2301,230—
1993#2001,479—
1992#1961,518—
1991#1931,559#6,5197
1990#1691,714#5,3829
1989#1581,809#3,32517
1988#1581,802#5,2008
1987#1491,813#3,95911
1986#1621,733#3,88211
1985#1551,837#4,05210
1984#1551,825#4,2159
1983#1501,914#3,88410
1982#1462,009#4,5938
1981#1441,958#3,85810
1980#1471,928#4,9407
1979#1382,053#4,8427
1978#1302,176#3,61410
1977#1292,197#3,38611
1976#1292,115#4,9356
1975#1192,346#4,3097
1974#1182,471#3,8378
1973#1162,569#3,01311
1972#1102,992#2,65913
1971#1043,609#3,9637
1970#844,518#2,62113
1969#715,129#2,04617
1968#615,538#2,03016
1967#605,719#1,50726
1966#606,121#1,72320
1965#586,965#1,66922
1964#568,066#1,54526
1963#568,124#1,37532
1962#469,692#1,47928
1961#4210,509#1,60225
1960#439,403#1,61925
1959#429,727#1,36033
1958#3710,814#1,37032
1957#3311,575#1,58325
1956#3310,634#1,36232
1955#3011,179#1,37031
1954#2712,153#1,38230
1953#2512,919#1,37830
1952#2414,272#1,19538
1951#2215,206#1,24235
1950#2015,588#1,46425
1949#1717,404#1,34829
1948#1418,623#1,12740
1947#1520,742#1,06446
1946#1219,902#98047
1945#1217,244#89950
1944#1118,670#74569
1943#1120,365#74076
1942#1019,978#83960
1941#1116,273#81760
1940#1512,657#93946
1939#1411,290#99241
1938#1510,586#1,00940
1937#208,941#94244
1936#237,906#1,20530
1935#286,967#1,42223
1934#336,472#1,46122
1933#405,043#1,58619
1932#464,587#1,99514
1931#604,008#1,77017
1930#723,725#1,64420
1929#773,272#2,58910
1928#912,847#2,8439
1927#992,806#3,1518
1926#1142,415—
1925#1272,189#2,9369
1924#1272,222#4,3475
1923#1322,010#3,4677
1922#1441,706—
1921#1461,753—
1920#1501,556—
1919#1651,330—
1918#1671,329—
1917#1641,223#3,9815
1916#1631,216—
1915#1681,096#2,45810
1914#169835—
1913#170676—
1912#189517—
1911#185387—
1910#199331—
1909#194299—
1908#200280—
1907#254184—
1906#235184—
1905#213210—
1904#227183—
1903#241157—
1902#224179—
1901#237148—
1900#231185—
1899#231141—
1898#225169—
1897#227145—
1896#227149—
1895#227148—
1894#219147—
1893#211146—
1892#239122—
1891#230110—
1890#217124—
1889#199133—
1888#203123—
1887#20897—
1886#22282—
1885#20886—
1884#21875—
1883#23458—
1882#21762—
1881#19560—
1880#16380—
First appearance
1880

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 1977

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #50 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 173 girlsAKMaine: #107 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 492 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Carolyn, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #96 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 412 girlsNHWashington: #161 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 785 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Carolyn, so not publishedIDMontana: #114 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 481 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Carolyn, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #161 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 892 girlsMNIllinois: #121 for girls · 126 births · 1 in 574 girlsILWisconsin: #130 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 659 girlsWIMichigan: #141 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 723 girlsMINew York: #105 for girls · 206 births · 1 in 494 girlsNYMassachusetts: #98 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 433 girlsMARhode Island: #114 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 490 girlsRIOregon: #149 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 736 girlsORNevada: #105 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 382 girlsNVWyoming: #129 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 475 girlsWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Carolyn, so not publishedSDIowa: #163 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 861 girlsIAIndiana: #142 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 705 girlsINOhio: #151 for girls · 94 births · 1 in 746 girlsOHPennsylvania: #119 for girls · 115 births · 1 in 577 girlsPANew Jersey: #107 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 496 girlsNJConnecticut: #88 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 365 girlsCTCalifornia: #146 for girls · 210 births · 1 in 712 girlsCAUtah: #120 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 507 girlsUTColorado: #146 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 683 girlsCONebraska: #165 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 774 girlsNEMissouri: #110 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 553 girlsMOKentucky: #143 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 723 girlsKYWest Virginia: #155 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 725 girlsWVVirginia: #112 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 503 girlsVAMaryland: #90 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 393 girlsMDDelaware: #95 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 349 girlsDEArizona: #182 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 797 girlsAZNew Mexico: #116 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 474 girlsNMKansas: #163 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 751 girlsKSArkansas: #119 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 565 girlsARTennessee: #127 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 623 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #153 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 735 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #127 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 531 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #122 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 432 girlsDCOklahoma: #115 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 564 girlsOKLouisiana: #181 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 848 girlsLAMississippi: #96 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 395 girlsMSAlabama: #119 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 535 girlsALGeorgia: #121 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 547 girlsGAHawaii: #81 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 333 girlsHITexas: #172 for girls · 115 births · 1 in 874 girlsTXFlorida: #120 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 547 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Alaska#50 · 1 in 173
  2. Hawaii#81 · 1 in 333
  3. Connecticut#88 · 1 in 365
  4. Maryland#90 · 1 in 393
  5. Delaware#95 · 1 in 349

Best ever in a state: #4 in Oklahoma, 1942.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Alaska#50141 in 173
Hawaii#81141 in 333
Connecticut#88391 in 365
Maryland#90471 in 393
Delaware#9581 in 349
Mississippi#96401 in 395
New Hampshire#96111 in 412
Massachusetts#98681 in 433
Nevada#10581 in 382
New York#1052061 in 494
Maine#107121 in 492
New Jersey#107741 in 496
Missouri#110561 in 553
Virginia#112561 in 503
Montana#11491 in 481
Rhode Island#11491 in 490
Oklahoma#115301 in 564
New Mexico#116171 in 474
Alabama#119431 in 535
Arkansas#119231 in 565
Pennsylvania#1191151 in 577
Florida#120791 in 547
Utah#120291 in 507
Georgia#121601 in 547
Illinois#1211261 in 574
District of Columbia#122141 in 432
South Carolina#127331 in 531
Tennessee#127451 in 623
Wyoming#12951 in 475
Wisconsin#130441 in 659
Michigan#141791 in 723
Indiana#142501 in 705
Kentucky#143341 in 723
California#1462101 in 712
Colorado#146251 in 683
Oregon#149201 in 736
Ohio#151941 in 746
North Carolina#153451 in 735
West Virginia#155171 in 725
Minnesota#161291 in 892
Washington#161291 in 785
Iowa#163221 in 861
Kansas#163181 in 751
Nebraska#165131 in 774
Texas#1721151 in 874
Louisiana#181331 in 848
Arizona#182201 in 797
Idaho———
North Dakota———
South Dakota———
Vermont———

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
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 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)
Rise & fade · girls
62 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1942 at #10 (19,978 births)
  • Births halved by 1959, 17 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 1 yr
  • Top 10: 1 yr · 1942
  • Top 100: 44 yrs · run 1927–1970
  • Top 1,000: 141 yrs · run 1880–2020
Share of babies · girls
1 in 68
  • Highest: 1 in 68 girls born in 1942 were named Carolyn (1.5%)
  • Latest: 1 in 8,688 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1940s
  • 32.7% of all girls named Carolyn (181,858) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s856#163 (1880)#207
1890s1,401#211 (1893)#225
1900s2,009#194 (1909)#226
1910s8,940#163 (1916)#174
1920s22,776#77 (1929)#121
1930s69,525#14 (1939)#35
1940s181,858#10 (1942)#13
1950s124,067#20 (1950)#29
1960s75,266#42 (1961)#55
1970s27,046#84 (1970)#118
1980s18,628#144 (1981)#152
1990s12,884#169 (1990)#236
2000s6,737#308 (2000)#484
2010s3,482#736 (2010)#796
2020s1,302#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 1977

girls
#129
2,197 births · 1 in 698 girls
boys
#3,386
11 births · 1 in 149,384 boys

Top girls' names in 1977

  1. #1Jennifer58,964
  2. #2Melissa26,879
  3. #3Amy26,729
  4. #4Jessica24,846
  5. #5Heather23,773
  6. #6Angela20,998
  7. #7Michelle19,540
  8. #8Kimberly18,286
  9. #9Amanda18,278
  10. #10Kelly18,234
  11. #129Carolyn2,197

Top boys' names in 1977

  1. #1Michael67,587
  2. #2Jason55,631
  3. #3Christopher46,721
  4. #4David40,515
  5. #5James40,040
  6. #6Robert34,214
  7. #7John34,195
  8. #8Brian32,492
  9. #9Matthew31,965
  10. #10Joseph26,483
  11. #3,386Carolyn11
More about 1977

girls

1,533,146 girls got a published name in 1977; 1 in 698 of them was named Carolyn, which outranked 98.9% of the 11,329 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Carolyn
  1. #126Katrina2,296
  2. #127Aimee2,288
  3. #128Felicia2,219
  4. #129Carolyn2,197
  5. #130Kari2,165
  6. #131Rhonda2,162
  7. #132Cindy2,159
Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,746Shawnte#2,486 → #740
  2. ↑ 1,077Jacklyn#2,060 → #983
  3. ↑ 775Talia#1,482 → #707
  4. ↑ 605Haley#1,047 → #442
  5. ↑ 576Raven#1,154 → #578
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,033Liberty#543 → #1,576
  2. ↓ 464Luciana#545 → #1,009
  3. ↓ 441Danyel#999 → #1,440
  4. ↓ 428Chaka#897 → #1,325
  5. ↓ 322Catina#861 → #1,183

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

boys

1,643,220 boys got a published name in 1977; 1 in 149,384 of them was named Carolyn, which outranked 50.6% of the 6,861 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Carolyn
  1. #3,203Zebulun12
  2. #3,203Zenon12
  3. #3,203Zoltan12
  4. #3,386Carolyn11
  5. #3,386Acie11
  6. #3,386Addam11
  7. #3,386Aj11
  8. #3,606Abrahm10
  9. #3,606Adon10
  10. #3,606Adrienne10

Tied with 219 names at #3,386; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1976
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,102Lavar#5,587 → #485
  2. ↑ 4,753Kinte#5,587 → #834
  3. ↑ 969Jedidiah#1,873 → #904
  4. ↑ 811Conor#1,748 → #937
  5. ↑ 704Amin#1,608 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 427Jerimy#963 → #1,390
  2. ↓ 322Demetrios#990 → #1,312
  3. ↓ 246Nakia#790 → #1,036
  4. ↓ 244Baron#977 → #1,221
  5. ↓ 235Hakim#878 → #1,113

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

See the top 100 for 1977 →