Carilyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	27	3	–	#2,318
1940s	96	10	+256%	#2,480
1950s	101	10	+5%	#2,867
1960s	80	8	-21%	#3,529
1970s	40	4	-50%	#6,104
1980s	34	3	-15%	#8,163
1990s	22	2	-35%	#10,433
2000s	12	1	-45%	#12,445
2010s	13	1	+8%	#13,741
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

#2,318

1940s

+256%

#2,480

1950s

101

+5%

#2,867

1960s

-21%

#3,529

1970s

-50%

#6,104

1980s

-15%

#8,163

1990s

-35%

#10,433

2000s

-45%

#12,445

2010s

+8%

#13,741

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Carilyn

Carilyn is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1935, 425 American babies have been named Carilyn. Its peak came in 1958, when 17 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Carilyn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Carilyn?

The median living Carilyn is about 64 years old; half are between 46 and 73. An estimated 300 people named Carilyn are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Carilyn year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	6	#15,205
2010	7	#13,741
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	5	#16,974
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	7	#12,445
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	5	#13,281
1985	6	#9,453
1980	6	#9,241
1975	8	#6,576
1970	–	–
1965	10	#4,229
1960	13	#3,529
1955	9	#4,109
1950	6	#4,796
1945	13	#2,480
1940	6	#3,919
1935	13	#2,318
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Carilyn, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Carilyn?

The median living Carilyn is about 64 years old. Half of all living Carilyns are between 46 and 73 years old.

How many people named Carilyn are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Carilyn are alive in the United States, based on 425 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Carilyn in 2025?

Carilyn did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Carilyn?

425 babies have been named Carilyn in the United States since 1935, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Carilyn most popular?

Carilyn peaked in 1958, when 17 newborns received the name.

Is Carilyn a boy or girl name?

Carilyn is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Carilyn rising or falling?

Carilyn has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Carilyn

Carilyn popularity over time

The story of Carilyn

How old are people named Carilyn?

Carilyn year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Carilyn