Caroll

Meaning & origin

Caroll is a variant spelling of Carol that saw its highest popularity in the mid-20th century, peaking in 1946. This spelling was never as common as the standard Carol, and its use has remained stable but very low since the 1940s, with no rank in recent years. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1918, aligning with the rise of Carol as a fashionable name for girls. Caroll belongs to the generation of names like Beverly and Shirley that were popular in the 1940s but have since faded. The current trajectory is stable, with only a handful of baby girls receiving this name annually.

Caroll is a variant spelling of Carol, which originated as a feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, meaning 'free man'. It was also influenced by the Old French carole, a circular dance accompanied by singing, giving rise to the English word 'carol' for a festive song. The name gained popularity in the 20th century, especially in the 1940s, and this variant spelling follows the trend of adding an extra 'l'.