Holding steady.
Popularity of Carolan since 1940
Babies named Carolan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 60 |
| 1950s | 38 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Carolan is a rare feminine name that experienced a brief peak in the 1940s. In 1941, its peak year, Carolan recorded its highest usage. The name is a variant of Carol and Carolyn, but also shares its spelling with the notable Irish harpist Turlough O'Carolan. It was first recorded in U.S. Social Security data in 1940. Despite never ranking in the top 1000, Carolan has a stable trajectory, suggesting it sees a small but consistent number of births each year. Its top states are not listed, indicating its use is scattered rather than concentrated. Carolan fits a pattern of vintage 'C' names that feel familiar but uncommon.
Carolan is a feminine variant of Carol, itself derived from the German name Karl, meaning 'free man'. It is also associated with the Irish surname Ó Cearbhalláin, anglicized as Carolan, borne by the 17th-century blind harper Turlough O'Carolan. As a given name, Carolan saw modest use in the United States, particularly in the 1940s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carrie, Lannie, Carol, Cari
Sibling names for Carolan
Names that share Carolan's style, for a brother or sister.
