Carolina Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Carolina originates from the Latin 'Carolus,' meaning 'free man' or 'manly.' It evolved through various languages, including French and English, and is associated with traits of strength and elegance. There is no biblical relevance for this name. Carolina gained popularity in the 18th century and is seen as a classic name today, with several common variants and derivatives.
The name Carolina is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West 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, Carolina has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Carolina' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7545th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5062nd out of 6773 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8639th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6304th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 649th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 677th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 882nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 657th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 368th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 309th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 443rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Carolina' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Carolina"
Pronunciation
/ˌkærəˈliːnə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Carolina is derived from the Latin name 'Carolus,' which means 'free man' or 'manly.' It is a feminine form of Charles.
Meaning
Free man, manly
Language Evolution
Carolus (Latin), Carolina (Latin), Caroline (French), Carolina (English)
Historical Usage
Carolina gained popularity in the 18th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, often associated with the Carolinas in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Caroline, Carol, Carrie, Carly
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Carolina is viewed as a sophisticated and classic name, often associated with elegance and grace.
Famous People
Carolina Herrera (fashion designer), Carolina Wozniacki (tennis player), Carolina de Moras (TV host)
Explore More Carolina Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Carolina"
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 "Carolina"
"Carolina" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7545th of 7545 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 5062nd of 6773 | 23 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8639th of 10718 | 13 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6304th of 16616 | 96 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 649th of 9107 | 2,201 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 677th of 9204 | 1,993 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 882nd of 12526 | 2,460 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 657th of 19264 | 3,955 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 368th of 27321 | 11,028 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 309th of 35406 | 16,467 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 443rd of 30306 | 8,624 |
Regional Popularity of "Carolina" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
44.15% 2789th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Carolina" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
36.62% 505th/1379 |
24.56% 581st/2366 |
31.52% 360th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
53.34% 830th/1556 |
22.35% 526th/2353 |
27.80% 430th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
64.57% 1438th/2227 |
53.91% 1310th/2430 |
22.57% 644th/2853 |
22.52% 625th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
33.16% 974th/2937 |
23.72% 826th/3483 |
18.22% 641st/3518 |
10.78% 436th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
21.41% 789th/3685 |
9.81% 439th/4475 |
7.28% 378th/5194 |
3.85% 243rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
12.88% 590th/4582 |
8.71% 450th/5164 |
3.61% 264th/7313 |
3.12% 233rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.52% 738th/3984 |
14.82% 665th/4487 |
4.85% 331st/6822 |
6.53% 410th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Carolina"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Carolina" 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.