Karoline
Karoline was the 1718th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 119 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 1576th with 139 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 103 places. More babies were named Karoline in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Caroline) feminine of Charles: man, free man · French, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #1,718 girls, up 711 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 119girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2017139 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,862babies recorded
What does the name Karoline mean?
Karoline is a spelling of Caroline, pronounced the same way, so it shares Caroline's meaning and origin.
Caroline is the French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, with the diminutive ending -ine. DMNES traces Charles to a Germanic word karl, 'man', related to Old English ceorl, 'freeman', and notes that Charlemagne made the name widespread. Wikipedia says Caroline came into English use in the 1600s, first among upper-class families in honor of Charles I and Charles II.
Carolus (Latin, “Charles”)karl (Old High German, “man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Carolina, Carolyn, Carol, Callie, Carrie, Charlotte.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Caroline', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Charles', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Caroline (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Karoline popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,718 | 119 |
| 2020 | #2,429 | 72 |
| 2010 | #2,105 | 94 |
| 2000 | #2,199 | 72 |
| 1990 | #2,978 | 38 |
| 1980 | #3,664 | 22 |
| 1970 | #2,474 | 30 |
| 1960 | #3,272 | 15 |
| 1950 | #3,551 | 10 |
| 1940 | #3,675 | 7 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #5,355 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Karoline, counting every spelling?
Karoline is a spelling of Caroline, a name family that ranked #105 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,718 for Karoline on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,015 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline | 2,646 | #96 | 14,478 |
| Carolyn | 185 | #1,222 | 1,032 |
| Karoline | 119 | #1,718 | 476 |
| Carolynn | 45 | #3,409 | 198 |
| Carolyne | 9 | #10,260 | 46 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Karoline?
119 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Karoline (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Karoline born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 70 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Karoline.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Karoline?
About 3,700 people born in the US named Karoline are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 10 and 32. That makes Karoline mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Karoline by state
How common Karoline was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (1.9×), Texas (1.8×). In 40 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Karoline: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Karoline, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Karoline
What does Karoline mean?
Karoline is a spelling of Caroline, which means “feminine of Charles: man, free man” (French, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Karoline?
Karoline was the 1718th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 119 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 1576th with 139 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 103 places. More babies were named Karoline in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Karoline a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Karoline in the US.
Where is Karoline most popular?
In 2021–2025, Karoline was most common in Kentucky (0.12 per 1,000 girls), followed by Florida and Texas.