Carolyn

Variation of Caroline

"free man"

Carolyn Origin and Meaning

The name Carolyn is a girl's name meaning "free man".

The phonetic Carolyn spelling, which was very popular from the 1920s to the '60s, has been steadily on the wane while Caroline herself has stayed strong.

Carolyn Keene was the pseudonymous author of the Nancy Drew Books; Carolyn Jones played Morticia Addams on TV's The Addams Family.

Carolyn Rank in US Top 1000

# 953 in the US

Carolyn Popularity

• 953 US 2020
• 1546 Nameberry 2024
• 93 Unique 2023

20 Names Similar to Carolyn

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Carolyn.

• Elaine
• Carol
• Arlene
• Marilyn
• Karen
• Angeline
• Kathleen
• Bonita
• Karolina
• Kelly
• Alyona
• Carlie
• Cheryl
• Clarice
• Hilda
• Ellen
• Avril
• Ameline
• Corinne
• Carmel

Famous People Named Carolyn

• Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker American astronomer
• Carolyn Gimpel Hart American mystery novelist
• Carolyn Ashley Kizer American poet
• Carolyn Doris "C.D." Wright American poet
• Carolyn Leigh American lyricist
• Carolyn Ann Franklin American singer; sister of Aretha Franklin
• Carolyn Jane Maloney U.S. Congresswoman from New York
• Carolyn McCarthy U.S. Congresswoman from New York
• Carolyn Jean Cheeks Kilpatrick U.S. Congresswoman from Michigan
• Carolyn Sue Jones American actress
• Carolyn Inez McCormick American actress
• Carolyn Seymour English actress
• Carolyn Dawn Johnson Canadian country music singer
• Carolyn Hax American advice columnist
• Carolyn George American ballerina
• Carolyn See American novelist
• Carolyn Keene pen name used by writers of the Nancy Drew book series
• Carolyn Murphy American model and host of "Project Runway All Stars"
• Carolyn Cassady American writer
• Carolyn Hennessy American Author and Actress
• Carolyn Jeanne Bessette Kennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy Jr.
• Carolyn London mother of model/TV personality Tyra Banks

Carolyn in Pop Culture

• Carolyn Burnham character in the film "American Beauty"
• Carolyn character in novelette "The Hot Moms Club" by author Tina Tirrell
• Carolyn Stoddard in the show "House of Dark Shadows" & adaptions
• Carolyn Polhemus character in movie "Presumed Innocent"