Given name & surname
Caryl
“a free man”·“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
Caryl is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.” Caryl is a variant of Carol. In English use, Carol carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Caryl is a variant of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.” Caryl is a variant of Carol. In English use, Carol 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 1896. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Caryl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,691
- 344 boys · 6,347 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 200 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 5% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 1996. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 190 in 1947. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,581 as a first name in 2020; 545 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.
Caryl’s family of names
Caryl has a related form in Carol. Caryl has a related form in Carl.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Caryl
- Caryl ChurchillBritish dramatistborn 1938
- Caryl PhillipsKittian-British writer (born 1958)
- Caryl LincolnAmerican actress (1903-1983)
- Caryl Parry JonesWelsh singer and writerborn 1958
- Caryl BrahmsEnglish critic, novelist, and journalist (1901-1982)
- Caryl Ap Rhys PryceBritish mercenary (1876-1955)
- Caryl FéreyFrench writerborn 1967
- Caryl NeuenschwanderSwiss ice hockey playerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Caryl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Carolann
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Karolyn
>99% girls
Carole
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Kathlyn
>99% girls
Cathryn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carolyne
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Carlotta
“free man” · “a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Carlene
“a free woman”
>99% girls