Holding steady, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Carlin since 1905
Babies named Carlin per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1992, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Carlin's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1910s | 0 | 58 |
| 1920s | 10 | 103 |
| 1930s | 13 | 138 |
| 1940s | 86 | 141 |
| 1950s | 131 | 161 |
| 1960s | 121 | 166 |
| 1970s | 160 | 197 |
| 1980s | 255 | 365 |
| 1990s | 432 | 469 |
| 2000s | 347 | 387 |
| 2010s | 263 | 333 |
| 2020s | 121 | 103 |
Meaning & origin
Carlin is a unisex name with Irish and English roots that has remained extremely rare throughout its recorded history. First appearing on U.S. birth records in 1905, its peak year, the name has never entered widespread use. In 2025, it ranked 6446th with only 1 in every 131,390 newborns receiving the name. Its trajectory is stable, neither growing nor declining sharply, and it is unassociated with any particular region. As a diminutive of Carl, it carries the meaning of 'little champion' or 'little strong one', tying it to a long tradition of Irish and Germanic naming. For parents drawn to short, less common names with a clear heritage, Carlin offers an understated option that avoids trendy sounds.
Carlin is a diminutive of the masculine name Carl, itself derived from the Germanic 'karl' meaning 'free man' or 'strong one'. In Irish contexts, it may also be a variant of the surname O'Carlin or MacCarlin, meaning 'descendant of the little champion'. The name has seen sporadic use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the late 19th century, though it remains uncommon.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carl, Carrie, Lin
Sibling names for Carlin
Names that share Carlin's style, for a brother or sister.
