Given name & surname
Carlin
“a free woman”·“a free man”
Carlin is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carlin is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carlin is a variant of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carlin is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1905. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,565
- 2,626 boys · 1,939 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 107 babies
- 2025
- 30
- #6,591 for girls · #6,520 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 51% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 17 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,591 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 13 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,660 as a first name in 2020; 11,301 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carlin’s family of names
Carlin has a related form in Carl. Carlin has a related form in Carla.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Carlin
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carlin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Jalyn
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Kellyn
“a slender, beautiful, and powerful woman” · “one who is slender”
30% boys · 70% girls
Karman
“the lord of the manor”
35% boys · 65% girls