Carole
Below 5 births
2025 SSA
About Carole
Carole is a feminine name of French origin, derived from the masculine name Charles, ultimately from Germanic roots meaning 'free man' or 'strong.' Popularized in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century, Carole reached its peak popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, boosted by celebrities like Carole Lombard. The spelling with an 'e' ending gives it a distinctly French flair compared to the variant Carol. Though less common for newborns today, Carole retains a classic, elegant image. The name carries musical associations through the tradition of Christmas carols and gained recognition through famous bearers like singer-songwriter Carole King. Its timeless quality balances tradition with a warm, approachable character.
Carole is also given to boys.
Pronounced KAR-ul.
As of October 2026, Carole ranked #3399 in US births in 1961 SSA, peaked at #1217 in 1942.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
Similar names
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Carole on lists
Famous Caroles
- Carole King (born Carol Joan Klein)Girl
American singer,songwriter
- Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters)Girl
American actress
- Carole DiFalco RadziwillGirl
American realty TV personality ("Real Housewives of New York")
- Carole Landis (born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste)Girl
American actress
- Carole Elizabeth MiddletonGirl
mother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Carole MathewsGirl
American actress
- Carole BouquetGirl
French actress
- Carole Bayer SagerGirl
American songwriter
- Carole Denise FredericksGirl
American R&B singer
- Mildred Frances "Carole" CookGirl
American actress
- Carole ShelleyGirl
English actress
- Carole "Cookie" ColeGirl
American actress; adopted daughter of singer Nat King Cole
- Carole BaskinGirl
owner of Big Cat Rescue, a wild cat sanctuary
Carole in pop culture
- Carole HansonGirl
character in "The Saddle Club" TV and book series