A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Carlyn since 1900
Babies named Carlyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1992, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Carlyn's real moment was 1943.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 105 |
| 1920s | 184 |
| 1930s | 270 |
| 1940s | 486 |
| 1950s | 417 |
| 1960s | 437 |
| 1970s | 320 |
| 1980s | 567 |
| 1990s | 614 |
| 2000s | 505 |
| 2010s | 302 |
| 2020s | 77 |
Meaning & origin
Carlyn, a variant of Carolyn, has been in consistent but modest use in the United States since the early 1900s. First recorded in 1900, it reached its peak rank of 8,362 in 2025, though its highest popularity by frequency was in 1943, when it was most common among newborns. The name has experienced a resurgence since 2022, climbing in usage after decades of relative obscurity. Carlyn shares its root with Caroline and Carolyn, all derived from the Germanic word for 'free man,' and it carries a classic, vintage feel that appeals to parents seeking a less common alternative to these more popular cousins.
Carlyn is a variant of Carolyn, itself an English feminine form of Charles, which derives from the Germanic word *karlaz* meaning 'free man'. The Irish and Scottish Gaelic equivalent is Cáitlín, anglicized as Caitlin. In the U.S., Carlyn emerged in the early 20th century and saw peak usage in the 1940s, coinciding with the wider popularity of Carol and Caroline.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carly, Cari, Lyn
Sibling names for Carlyn
Names that share Carlyn's style, for a brother or sister.
