Given name & surname
Carole
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
Carole is a variant of Carol. In English use, Carol carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Original FrenchCaroline
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carole is a variant of Carol. In English use, Carol carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French use, Carole is used as a form of Carol.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1901. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carole through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 110,952
- 264 boys · 110,688 girls
- Most popular year
- 1942
- 8,440 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #10,258 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −62%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 10,258 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 8,407 in 1942. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 80,915 as a first name in 2020; 187 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.
Carole’s family of names
In German usage, Carole is a diminutive of Caroline. In English usage, Carole has a related form in Carol. Carole is a form of Carol.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Carole has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its French roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Karlaequivalent
- CarlaItalian
- Carolaequivalent
- Karoleequivalent
- Caroletteequivalent
- Karolaequivalent
- КэролRussian
- КарольRussian
Show 1 moreShow fewer
People named Carole
- Penny MarshallAmerican actress, director and producer (1943–2018)
- Carole LombardAmerican actress (1908-1942)
- Carole KingAmerican singer-songwriter and musician (born 1942)
- Carole BouquetFrench actress (b. 1957)
- Carole LandisAmerican actress (1919–1948)
- Carole PatemanBritish feminist, academic political theoristborn 1940
- Carole Ann FordBritish actressborn 1940
- Carole Montilletalpine skierborn 1973
- Carole AndréFrench actressborn 1953
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carole, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Bonnette
Bonnette is a surname from French.
>99% girls
Jeanette
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Jeanne
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Karlotta
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Mariette
Mariette is a feminine given name from French. It is used in English and French.
>99% girls
Jeannine
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Joanne
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Bonita
“a pretty and charming girl”
>99% girls