Carole Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Carole originates from the French language, meaning 'free man' and is a diminutive of Charles. It evolved from historical forms such as Charles into Carole. The name is associated with traits of independence and kindness, and it does not have biblical relevance. Carole saw a rise in popularity during the 20th century and is now perceived as a classic name. Notable individuals named Carole include singer-songwriter Carole King and actress Carole Lombard.
The name Carole is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Carole has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Carole' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2095th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4925th out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 698th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 70th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 177th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 526th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1721st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5868th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11771st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Carole' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Carole"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɛrəl/
Origin
French
Etymology
The name Carole is derived from the Old French name 'Carole', which is a diminutive of 'Charles', meaning 'free man'.
Meaning
free man
Language Evolution
Charles, Carole
Historical Usage
Carole gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the mid-1900s.
Variants & Derivatives
Carol, Carolina, Karol
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Carole is viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Carole King, Carole Lombard, Carole Middleton
Explore More Carole Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Carole"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Carole"
"Carole" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2095th of 6773 | 229 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4925th of 7552 | 35 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 698th of 9107 | 1,938 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 70th of 9204 | 63,123 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 177th of 12526 | 38,124 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 526th of 19264 | 5,822 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1721st of 27321 | 1,246 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5868th of 35406 | 334 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11771st of 30306 | 90 |
Regional Popularity of "Carole" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
64.49% 997th/1546 |
75.26% 1171st/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Carole" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
31.29% 443rd/1416 |
36.19% 499th/1379 |
76.67% 1814th/2366 |
39.67% 453rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
3.75% 58th/1546 |
3.79% 59th/1556 |
6.97% 164th/2353 |
3.49% 54th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
7.45% 166th/2227 |
5.68% 138th/2430 |
8.59% 245th/2853 |
6.95% 193rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
17.36% 510th/2937 |
11.89% 414th/3483 |
16.29% 573rd/3518 |
16.20% 655th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
52.37% 1930th/3685 |
43.66% 1954th/4475 |
34.66% 1800th/5194 |
30.68% 1938th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
- |
87.19% 6376th/7313 |
81.68% 6096th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Carole"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Carole" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.