Given name & surname
Karlin
“a small, strong woman”·“a free man”
Karlin is a variant of Karla. In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.” Karlin is a variant of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Karlin is a variant of Karla. In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.” Karlin is a variant of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Karlin is a variant of Karl. An origin associated with Karl is German.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karlin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 886
- 426 boys · 460 girls
- Most popular year
- 1999
- 27 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #10,187 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −55%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 10,187 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 43.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 16 in 2019. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 963 as a first name in 2020; 1,870 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.
Karlin’s family of names
Karlin has a related form in Karla. Karlin has a related form in Karl. In Greek usage, Karlin as a surname is a transliteration of Κάρλιν.
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 Karlin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Quentin
“the fifth-born child”
>99% boys
Collin
“high” · “of the victorious people”
99% boys · 1% girls
Colin
“high” · “of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Carmine
“a beautiful song” · “the color crimson”
99% boys · 1% girls
Agustin
“one who is venerable; majestic”
>99% boys
Quinton
“from the queen's town or settlement”
>99% boys
Kolby
“a dark-haired man”
84% boys · 16% girls
Carlos
“a free man”
>99% boys