Holding steady.
Popularity of Karilynn since 1963
Babies named Karilynn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 27 |
| 1990s | 37 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Karilynn is a modern compound name that saw its peak usage in 1985, during a era when blended names were fashionable. It first appeared on record in 1963, reflecting the mid-century trend of combining established names like Karen and Lynn. The name has never been ranked among the top 1000, indicating steady but rare usage, and its trajectory has remained stable in recent years. While no single state showed a strong concentration, Karilynn is primarily a U.S. coinage, typical of the creative naming patterns of the 1980s. Its meaning is not rooted in ancient languages but in the phonetic and stylistic preferences of modern parents.
Karilynn is a modern coinage that combines elements of popular names: the first syllable from Karen (a Danish short form of Katherine) and the suffix -lynn (from the Welsh name Lynn meaning 'lake'). It emerged in the mid-20th century as part of a trend of creating melodic compound names. The name saw most use in the 1980s, where it peaked in popularity.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kari, Lynn, Karrie
Sibling names for Karilynn
Names that share Karilynn's style, for a brother or sister.
