Given name & surname
Carlyle
“from the fort at Luguvalium”
Carlyle is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the fort at Luguvalium.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the fort at Luguvalium.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1892. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carlyle through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,071
- 3,856 boys · 215 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 115 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #4,888 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −28%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,888 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 26.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 115 in 1918. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,026 as a first name in 2020; 3,332 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.
Carlyle’s family of names
Carlyle has a related form in Carlisle. Carlyle has a related form in Carlisle. Carlyle has a related form in Carlile.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Carlyle
- Carlyle GleanGrenadian politician (1932–2021)
- Carlyle BlackwellAmerican silent film actor, director, and producer (1884-1955)
- Carlyle S. BealsCanadian astronomer (1899-1979)
- Carlyle Tapsellfield hockey player (1909–1975)
- Carlyle A. LuerAmerican botanist (1922–2019)
- Carlyle MitchellTrinidad and Tobago footballerborn 1987
- Carlyle GuimarãesBrazilian association football player (1926-1982)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carlyle, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Melville
“from the mill town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Wilbur
“one who is willful; a bright man”
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Gardner
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97% boys · 3% girls
Hilton
“a wealthy woman” · “from the town on the hill”
85% boys · 15% girls
Garland
“decorated with a wreath of flowers” · “one who is crowned”
86% boys · 14% girls
Wellington
“estate”
>99% boys