Given name
Karolina
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
In German use, Karolina has a related form in Caroline. In Latin use, Caroline carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Karolina has a related form in Caroline. In Latin use, Caroline 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 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karolina through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,676
- 0 boys · 4,676 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 190 babies
- 2025
- 177
- #1,267 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +33%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 177 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,267 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 33.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 190 in 2007. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (49). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,318 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karolina’s family of names
In German usage, Karolina has a short form in Lina. Karolina shares a linguistic root with Caroline. In Polish usage, Karolina has a conventional equivalent in the French form Charlotte.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Karolina has relatives in 10 languages.
15 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 12
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- CharlotteFrench
- Carolynequivalent
- Karolhas masculine form
- Karolynequivalent
- Carolyneequivalent
- Karoleequivalent
- ΚαρολίναGreek
- Karolínaalso known as · Czech
Show 4 moreShow fewer
People named Karolina
- Ani LorakUkrainian-born Russian singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneurborn 1978
- Karolina GočevaMacedonian singerborn 1980
- Karolina ŠpremCroatian tennis playerborn 1984
- Karolina BielawskaPolish beauty pageant winner, Miss World 2021born 1999
- Karolina WydraPolish-American actressborn 1981
- Karolina NajaPolish canoeistborn 1990
- Lina SandellSwedish poet, author, hymnwriter (1832–1903)
- Karolina KowalkiewiczPolish mixed martial artistborn 1985
- Karolina GruszkaPolish actressborn 1980
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Karolina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Angelina
“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”
>99% girls
Adriana
“holy”
>99% girls
Karina
“one who is dear and pure”
>99% girls
Iliana
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Analia
Analia is a feminine given name from Spanish.
>99% girls
Alana
“one who is precious” · “resembling a little rock”
>99% girls
Melina
“as sweet as honey”
>99% girls
Kate
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls