Declining since 1985, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Carole since 1901
Babies named Carole per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 492 |
| 1920s | 2,004 |
| 1930s | 26,768 |
| 1940s | 50,303 |
| 1950s | 16,535 |
| 1960s | 10,566 |
| 1970s | 2,209 |
| 1980s | 941 |
| 1990s | 522 |
| 2000s | 210 |
| 2010s | 95 |
| 2020s | 25 |
Meaning & origin
Carole is a spelling variant of Carol that saw its greatest use in the mid-20th century, peaking in 1942. Since 1985, its popularity has been falling steadily. By 2025, it ranked 10,107th nationally, with just 1 in 178,585 babies receiving the name. The variant maintains the same etymological roots as Carol and Carolyn, all feminine forms of Charles. Though less common today, Carole retains a classic mid-century feel associated with the 1940s generation.
Carole is a feminine given name derived from the French masculine name Charles, which itself comes from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man'. The spelling variant 'Carole' emerged in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a fashionable alternative to Carol. It enjoyed peak popularity in the 1940s but has since declined.
Where Carole is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Carole” around the world
Where Carole lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carrie, Carol, Caz, Cara
Sibling names for Carole
Names that share Carole's style, for a brother or sister.
