Karolyn
Meaningfree woman · English form of Caroline
- US rank
- #6,325
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #571 in 1941
18 babies were named Karolyn in the US in 2025. It has climbed 304 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1912–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Karolyn you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 89,286 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Karolyn, 18 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Karolyn would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKarolyn first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1941, when it ranked #571. Today it's #6,325, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendKarolyn has climbed 304 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #6,325. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningKarolyn is an English form of Caroline, which means “free woman”.
About the name Karolyn
Karolyn is a girl name of American origin meaning “free woman”. It has 7 letters and 3 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-lyn”. US birth records list Karolyn for girls from 1912 to 2025, in 113 of those 114 years. Its best year was 1941, when it ranked #571 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #6,325, with 18 babies.
Origin:American names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 6.5 | 154,739 girls |
| 1920s | 9.3 | 107,527 girls |
| 1930s | 44 | 22,681 girls |
| 1940s | 95 | 10,501 girls |
| 1950s | 42 | 24,096 girls |
| 1960s | 48 | 20,951 girls |
| 1970s | 42 | 23,753 girls |
| 1980s | 27 | 36,563 girls |
| 1990s | 26 | 38,536 girls |
| 2000s | 19 | 51,335 girls |
| 2010s | 14 | 69,541 girls |
| 2020s | 11 | 87,719 girls |
Other spellings of Karolyn
More American girl names
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Josie · he will add
- Unisex name: Kinsley · king's meadow
- Girl name: Sienna · from Siena
- Unisex name: Brooklyn · from Brooklyn, New York
- Girl name: Summer · summer
- Unisex name: Stevie · crown
Questions about the name Karolyn
What does the name Karolyn mean?
Karolyn means “free woman” in English, as a form of Caroline.
What is the origin of the name Karolyn?
Karolyn has American roots in our records. Other American names include Lainey, Daisy, Josie.
Is Karolyn a boy or girl name?
Karolyn is a girl name.
How popular is the name Karolyn?
Karolyn ranked #6,325 for US girls in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1941 (#571).