Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1994

Carlyn

Gender Girl · 2% boys Rank 2025 #8,462
Rank 2025
#8,462
among girls · ↓2,013 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
12
named Carlyn
How common
1 in 133,939
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1994
78 babies
All-time total
4,373
#2,842 all-time among girls
First recorded
1900
in Social Security records

Carlyn popularity over time

4,373 babies have been named Carlyn since 1900, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s 22 – 22 2 – #1,895
1910s 105 – 105 11 +377% #1,907
1920s 184 12 196 20 +87% #1,561
1930s 270 32 302 30 +54% #1,211
1940s 486 13 499 50 +65% #952
1950s 417 5 422 42 -15% #1,295
1960s 437 – 437 44 +4% #1,526
1970s 320 – 320 32 -27% #1,986
1980s 567 – 567 57 +77% #1,681
1990s 614 5 619 62 +9% #1,896
2000s 505 – 505 51 -18% #2,340
2010s 302 – 302 30 -40% #3,938
2020s (to 2025) 77 – 77 13 -58% #5,356

The story of Carlyn

Carlyn is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,462 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1900, 4,373 American babies have been named Carlyn. Its peak came in 1994, when 78 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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 Carlyn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Carlyn?

The median living Carlyn is about 40 years old; half are between 25 and 63. An estimated 3,500 people named Carlyn are alive in the United States today.

median 40 020406080100

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

Carlyn year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 12 #8,462 – –
2024 18 #6,449 – –
2023 – – – –
2022 14 #7,716 – –
2021 10 #9,693 – –
2020 23 #5,356 – –
2019 20 #6,025 – –
2018 20 #6,066 – –
2017 28 #4,830 – –
2016 28 #4,884 – –
2015 31 #4,513 – –
2014 33 #4,374 – –
2013 38 #3,938 – –
2012 38 #4,002 – –
2011 33 #4,381 – –
2010 33 #4,413 – –
2009 44 #3,630 – –
2008 44 #3,657 – –
2007 45 #3,612 – –
2006 42 #3,680 – –
2005 46 #3,324 – –
2004 57 #2,816 – –
2003 48 #3,090 – –
2002 56 #2,716 – –
2001 57 #2,641 – –
2000 66 #2,340 – –
1995 58 #2,284 – –
1990 55 #2,295 – –
1985 69 #1,681 – –
1980 38 #2,492 – –
1975 44 #1,993 – –
1970 42 #1,986 – –
1965 50 #1,577 – –
1960 39 #1,812 – –
1955 42 #1,580 – –
1950 50 #1,295 – –
1945 47 #1,143 – –
1940 34 #1,275 5 #3,525
1935 24 #1,514 – –
1930 38 #1,211 – –
1925 19 #2,036 – –
1920 16 #2,287 – –
1915 15 #2,061 – –
1910 5 #2,465 – –
1905 – – – –
1900 5 #1,972 – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Carlyn?

The median living Carlyn is about 40 years old. Half of all living Carlyns are between 25 and 63 years old.

How many people named Carlyn are alive today?

An estimated 3,500 people named Carlyn are alive in the United States, based on 4,373 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Carlyn in 2025?

Carlyn ranked #8,462 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Carlyn?

4,373 babies have been named Carlyn in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Carlyn most popular?

Carlyn peaked in 1994, when 78 newborns received the name.

Is Carlyn a boy or girl name?

Carlyn is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Carlyn rising or falling?

Carlyn is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Carlyn

Names that sound and feel close to Carlyn: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Carlyn with similar names → More names starting with C →