Given name
Carilyn
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
Carilyn is a variant of Caroline. In Latin use, Caroline carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carilyn is a variant of Caroline. In Latin use, Caroline carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1935. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carilyn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 425
- 0 boys · 425 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 17 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2011. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 17 in 1958. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 520 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carilyn’s family of names
Carilyn has a related form in Caroline.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Carilyn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karolyn
>99% girls
Kathlyn
>99% girls
Marylynn
>99% girls
Kathrine
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kathy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carolyn
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman” · “the little champion”
>99% girls
Karen
“one who is pure; virginal” · “one who is pure; chaste”
1% boys · 99% girls
Joycelyn
>99% girls