Caroline

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Caroline

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, French
Etymology:
Caroline is the French form of Carolina, the feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles. It comes from the word “ceorl,” which means “freeman.” See Charla for more information.

History:
Caroline came from 12th century Italy (where it was Carolina), it passed into southern Germany (as Karoline) where it became a common name in the German royal families. Caroline came to England with Queen Caroline, the German wife of the German King George II of England.

Pronunciation: care-oh-line (English), care-oh-leen (French)

Diminutives:
English: Caro, Carrie, Carri, Cari, Carry, Lina, Line.

Alternates: Caralyn, Caralynne, Carilyn, Carilynne, Carolyn, Carolynn. Carolyne, Carolin.
German: Karoline, Karolina.
Hungarian: Karolina.
Latin: Carolina.
Polish: Karoline.

Masculine: Charles.

See also: Carrie, Carolyn.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Caroline Howard Gilman (1794-1888)
American writer.
Caroline Norton (1808-1877)
English poet.
Caroline Blackwood (1931-1996)
Irish writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Caroline Maria Seymour Severance (1820-1914)
American suffragette.
Caroline “Carrie” Burnham Kilgore (1838-1909)
American educator.
Caroline Yale (1848-1933)
American educator for the deaf.

Miscellaneous:
Caroline Chisholm (1808-1877)
British-Australian philanthropist.

Places:
Caroline Islands
Pacific Ocean.

Political Figures:
Caroline Harrison (1832-1892)
American first lady. Wife of Benjamin Harrison.

Royalty:
Caroline of Brunswick-ansbach (Karoline von Brandenburg-Ansbach) (1683-1737)
Wife of King George II of Great Britain.
Caroline of Brunswick-lüneburg (Karoline von Braunschweig-Lüneburg) (1768-1821)
Wife of King George IV of Great Britain.

Scientists:
Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848)
German-British astronomer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.385 % named Carolyn
0.171 % named Carrie
0.085 % named Caroline
0.021 % named Carolina
0.003 % named Carolynn
0.002 % named Carolyne
0.003 % named Carri
0.001 % named Carolin
0.001 % named Carry

Popularity of Caroline:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 34th most popular.
1850: 16th most popular.
1875: 38th most popular.
1900-1910: 130th most popular.
1910-1920: 149th most popular.
1920-1930: 173rd most popular.
1930-1940: 186th most popular.
1940-1950: 209th most popular.
1950-1960: 304th most popular.
1960-1970: 201st most popular.
1970-1980: 205th most popular.
1980-1990: 155th most popular.
1990: 120th most popular.
1991: 118th most popular.
1992: 105th most popular.
1993: 106th most popular.
1994: 92nd most popular.
1995: 90th most popular.
1996: 75th most popular.
1997: 71st most popular.
1998: 73rd most popular.
1999: 71st most popular.
2000: 63rd most popular.
2001: 62nd most popular.
2002: 66th most popular.
2003: 67th most popular.

In France...
1900: 54th most popular.
1910: 107th most popular.
1920: 154th most popular.
1928: 200th most popular.
1930-1950: N/A
1951: 194th most popular.
1960: 76th most popular.
1970: 27th most popular.
1980: 12th most popular.
1990: 26th most popular.
2000: 71st most popular.

Popularity of Carolina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 982nd most popular.
1960-1970: 727th most popular.
1970-1980: 616th most popular.
1980-1990: 438th most popular.
1990: 258th most popular.
1991: 279th most popular.
1992: 254th most popular.
1993: 252nd most popular.
1994: 239th most popular.
1995: 249th most popular.
1996: 244th most popular.
1997: 254th most popular.
1998: 289th most popular.
1999: 287th most popular.
2000: 259th most popular.
2001: 257th most popular.
2002: 280th most popular.
2003: 257th most popular.