Carol

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Carol

Gender: Feminine, Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Carol is another form of Carola, the feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, which came from the Germanic word “ceorl,” which means “man,” or “free man.”

History:
Carola had been coined in the late 17th century (first noted is Carola Horsnet) as a feminine form of the Latin Carolus. Carol, without the “a” was traditionally a male name, but beginning in the late 19th century, it began to become a feminine name (originally it was imported from France was Carole, with the “e” signifying femininity).

Use of the name for girls may have been jumpstarted by Kate Douglas Wiggins 1887 novella The Birds’ Christmas Carol where an angelic little girl, born at Christmas-time, was named “Carol.”

Carol was one of the most popular names of the mid-twentieth century.

As a masculine name, Carol was simply an English version of Carolus.

Pronunciation: care-ull.

Alternates: Carola, Carole, Carolee, Carrol, Carroll, Carrola, Carola, Carolann, Carole, Caryl, Karola, Karole.
Hungarian: Karola, Karole.
Latin: Carola.
Polish: Karol.

Masculine: Charles.

Also see: Carola, Carole.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Carol Shields (1935-)
American novelist.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Carol Weiss King (1895-1952)
American lawyer.

Miscellaneous:
Carol Heiss (1940-)
American figure skater.

Political Figures:
Carol Moseley-Braun (1947-)
American politician.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.565 % named Carol
0.071 % named Carole
0.006 % named Carroll
0.006 % named Charla
0.005 % named Carrol
0.005 % named Karol
0.004 % named Carolee
0.001 % named Carola

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.006 % named Carol

Popularity of Carol, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 340th most popular.
1910-1920: 243rd most popular.
1920-1930: 116th most popular.
1930-1940: 11th most popular.
1937: 9th most popular.
1938: 7th most popular.
1939: 8th most popular.
1940: 4th most popular.
1941: 4th most popular.
1942: 4th most popular.
1943: 5th most popular.
1944: 5th most popular.
1945: 5th most popular.
1946: 5th most popular.
1947: 8th most popular.
1948: 7th most popular.
1949: 9th most popular.
1950-1960: 16th most popular.
1960-1970: 38th most popular.
1970-1980: 128th most popular.
1980-1990: 280th most popular.
1990: 354th most popular.
1991: 369th most popular.
1992: 402nd most popular.
1993: 480th most popular.
1994: 482nd most popular.
1995: 502nd most popular.
1996: 535th most popular.
1997: 601st most popular.
1998: 632nd most popular.
1999: 723rd most popular.
2000: 718th most popular.
2001: 846th most popular.
2001: 827th most popular.
2003: 870th most popular.

Popularity of Carrol, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 757th most popular.
1940-1950: 742nd most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Carroll, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1920: N/A
1920-1930: 894th most popular.
1930-1940: 741st most popular.
1940-1950: 581st most popular.
1950-1960: 936th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A

Popularity of Carol, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: N/A
1910-1920: 797th most popular.
1920-1930: 557th most popular.
1930-1940: 380th most popular.
1940-1950: 523rd most popular.
1950-1960: 834th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A