Caroline
Girl name · #96 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
In 2025, 2,646 baby girls were named Caroline, placing it at #96 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #62, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 680 girls born in 2025 was named Caroline.
Babies named Caroline per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Caroline first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 306 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 5,022 girls were named Caroline — good for #65 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Caroline against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Caroline in class?
Caroline scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Caroline is most common
Geography matters for names, and Caroline is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Carolines were TX (296), NC (162), TN (139), GA (135), FL (124). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Caroline
Statistically, parents drawn to Caroline tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Madeline, Madeleine, Jasmine, Natalie, and Katherine.
MadelineMadeleineJasmineNatalieKatherineJadeSavannahClaire
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Caroline | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,646 | #96 |
| 2024 | 2,730 | #92 |
| 2023 | 2,868 | #83 |
| 2022 | 3,030 | #77 |
| 2021 | 3,204 | #80 |
| 2020 | 3,364 | #71 |
| 2019 | 3,920 | #61 |
| 2018 | 4,167 | #56 |
| 2017 | 4,294 | #55 |
| 2016 | 4,437 | #56 |
| 2015 | 4,333 | #62 |
| 2014 | 4,348 | #59 |
| 2013 | 3,983 | #63 |
| 2012 | 3,421 | #80 |
| 2011 | 3,370 | #87 |
| 2010 | 3,360 | #88 |
| 2009 | 3,624 | #87 |
| 2008 | 3,545 | #94 |
| 2007 | 3,409 | #99 |
| 2006 | 3,791 | #89 |
| 2005 | 3,974 | #83 |
| 2004 | 4,379 | #74 |
| 2003 | 4,585 | #68 |
| 2002 | 4,657 | #67 |
| 2001 | 4,864 | #62 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Caroline a popular girl name?
Caroline ranked #96 among girls in 2025 with 2,646 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #62.
When was the name Caroline most popular?
Caroline peaked in 2000, when 5,022 American girls received the name (ranked #65 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Caroline?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 680 newborn American girls was named Caroline. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.