Carolina
Top 1000
About Carolina
Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
Pronounced Caro-LINE-a in English-speaking countries, it is heard as Caro-LEEN-a in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Nicknames can include Caro and Lina, as well as Carrie.
A prominent bearer is Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera (born Maria Carolina), who has designed clothes for First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michele Obama. A hauntingly melodic theme song in James Taylor's 'Carolina on My Mind.'
With the exception of two years during the 50s, Carolina has ranked in the US Top 1000 since the stats began in the 1880s, never overly popular, but never out of style either.
Pronounced care-oh-LEE-nuh.
As of October 2026, Carolina ranked #405 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #254 in 2004.
Editor's take: The name Carolina is a girl's name of French origin meaning "free man".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #407 | 787 | 440.6 |
| 2015 | #431 | 732 | 410.1 |
| 2016 | #421 | 775 | 437.4 |
| 2017 | #439 | 722 | 418.2 |
| 2018 | #420 | 740 | 435 |
| 2019 | #414 | 756 | 450.4 |
| 2020 | #450 | 684 | 423.1 |
| 2021 | #511 | 608 | 370.5 |
| 2022 | #477 | 664 | 404.8 |
| 2023 | #423 | 728 | 453.7 |
| 2024 | #428 | 716 | 441.9 |
| 2025 | #405 | 769 | 478.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Carolina.
- Bethany
- Kerena
- Cassie
- Erica
- Marilyn
- Elsa
- Julie
- Monica
- Melanie
- Megan
- Marie
- Gabrielle
- Sher
- Chelsea
- Beth
- Kathleen
- Jenna
- Rosa
- Carolyn
- Becca
Carolina on lists
Famous Carolinas
- Carolina Herrera
Venezuelan,American fashion designer
- Carolina Evelyn Klüft
Swedish Olympic heptathlete
- Carolina Östberg
Swedish opera singer
- Carolina Raquel Duer
Argentine world champion boxer
- Carolina kostner
Italian figure skater
- Carolina Cuomo
daughter of journalist Chris Cuomo
Carolina in pop culture
- Agent Carolina
character in the Rooster Teeth series, Red vs Blue
- North Carolina and South Carolina
USA
- Breathe Carolina
American rock band
- Carolina Liar
American rock band
- Carolina Chocolate Drops
American folk rock band
- "Carolina On My Mind"
James Taylor song
- "Oh My Sweet Carolina
" song by Ryan Adams
- "Carolina Rose
" a song by Gloriana
- Carolina Rose
a flower