How Many People Are Named Carolyn?
Complete statistics for the name Carolyn: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Carolyn means 'free woman' and has an uncommon charm. That's about 1 in 904 Americans who have this name, making it pretty rare. The majority of people named Carolyn are over 60, showing how it's a classic, old-school name.
📖 Meaning & Origin
It's believed that those with the life-path number 7 are deep thinkers and seekers of knowledge.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 74All 558,133 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1947Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Carolyn Through the Generations
Carolyn peaked in popularity in 1947 with 20,787 births, reflecting a generation that embraced this name. Today, there are 365,009 people named Carolyn living in the US, with most over 60 years old. This age skew paints a picture of a name that's deeply rooted in the past, yet still cherished by many.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Carolyn's Old French roots
📄 About the Name Carolyn
How Many People Have the Name Carolyn?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 365,009 people in the United States currently share the name Carolyn. That works out to roughly 1 in every 904 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Carolyn a Common or Rare Name?
Carolyn is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Carolyn Mean?
Carolyn means "free woman" and comes from Old French origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Carolyn in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Carolyn Most Popular?
The name Carolyn reached peak popularity in 1947, with 20,787 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Carolyn?
Approximately 365,009 people named Carolyn live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 558,133. That works out to roughly 1 in 904 Americans.
Is Carolyn a rare name?
Carolyn is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 904 Americans has this name.
What does the name Carolyn mean?
Carolyn means "free woman" and comes from Old French origins.
Is Carolyn more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Carolyn are male and 100% are female.
When was Carolyn most popular?
Carolyn peaked in 1947 with 20,787 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.