Carol
Shortened from Caroline. Associated by folk etymology with the English noun carol.
Every Carol since 1880 — 825,584 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Carol
Carol is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,242 in 2025 with 82 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 825,584 American babies have been named Carol. Its peak came in 1946, when 34,458 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
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 Carol stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Carol 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 | 82 | #2,242 | — | — |
| 2024 | 66 | #2,642 | — | — |
| 2023 | 74 | #2,424 | — | — |
| 2022 | 82 | #2,278 | — | — |
| 2021 | 87 | #2,156 | — | — |
| 2020 | 100 | #1,911 | — | — |
| 2019 | 112 | #1,818 | — | — |
| 2018 | 114 | #1,790 | — | — |
| 2017 | 114 | #1,817 | — | — |
| 2016 | 129 | #1,662 | — | — |
| 2015 | 118 | #1,770 | — | — |
| 2014 | 150 | #1,489 | — | — |
| 2013 | 133 | #1,617 | — | — |
| 2012 | 168 | #1,386 | — | — |
| 2011 | 191 | #1,251 | — | — |
| 2010 | 150 | #1,495 | — | — |
| 2009 | 189 | #1,285 | 5 | #12,777 |
| 2008 | 228 | #1,130 | — | — |
| 2007 | 250 | #1,048 | 9 | #8,288 |
| 2006 | 270 | #972 | 5 | #12,331 |
| 2005 | 351 | #758 | 14 | #5,615 |
| 2004 | 289 | #851 | — | — |
| 2003 | 276 | #871 | — | — |
| 2002 | 274 | #845 | — | — |
| 2001 | 278 | #831 | — | — |
| 2000 | 322 | #719 | — | — |
| 1995 | 460 | #525 | — | — |
| 1990 | 762 | #349 | 15 | #3,802 |
| 1985 | 841 | #292 | 13 | #3,435 |
| 1980 | 1,105 | #232 | 21 | #2,376 |
| 1975 | 1,784 | #150 | 14 | #2,774 |
| 1970 | 5,064 | #71 | 26 | #1,708 |
| 1965 | 10,097 | #42 | 56 | #988 |
| 1960 | 17,463 | #23 | 85 | #825 |
| 1955 | 22,046 | #15 | 78 | #829 |
| 1950 | 26,163 | #9 | 129 | #602 |
| 1945 | 30,389 | #5 | 192 | #430 |
| 1940 | 21,759 | #6 | 253 | #361 |
| 1935 | 11,735 | #11 | 206 | #379 |
| 1930 | 4,598 | #54 | 220 | #384 |
| 1925 | 2,286 | #119 | 146 | #505 |
| 1920 | 1,140 | #182 | 107 | #609 |
| 1915 | 596 | #243 | 78 | #657 |
| 1910 | 185 | #285 | 14 | #824 |
| 1905 | 91 | #351 | 6 | #1,119 |
| 1900 | 70 | #397 | 6 | #1,187 |
| 1895 | 48 | #404 | 6 | #996 |
| 1890 | 26 | #510 | 5 | #1,026 |
| 1885 | 11 | #661 | — | — |
| 1880 | 7 | #685 | — | — |
Famous people named Carol
- Carol II of Romania Politician · 1893–1953
- Carol I of Romania Politician · 1839–1914
- Carol Reed Film director · 1906–1976
- Carol Gilligan Psychologist · b. 1936
- Carol Potter Actor · b. 1948
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carol mean?
Shortened from Caroline. Associated by folk etymology with the English noun carol.
How popular is the name Carol in 2025?
Carol ranked #2,242 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 82 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Carol?
825,584 babies have been named Carol in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Carol most popular?
Carol peaked in 1946, when 34,458 newborns received the name.
Is Carol a boy or girl name?
Carol is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Carol rising or falling?
Carol is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Carol?
Well-known people named Carol include Carol II of Romania (politician), Carol I of Romania (politician), Carol Reed (film director).