Carroll is a unisex given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old Norse name Carl, which means "freeholder" or "strong". The name Carroll has been popular in English-speaking countries for centuries and was often used as a surname before being adopted as a given name.
The name Carroll became particularly well-known thanks to Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English writer and mathematician. He is famous for writing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel "Through the Looking-Glass", which have become classic works of children's literature. These books feature characters with names like Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat.
Carroll was also used as a surname by the prominent American family of Carrolls who settled in Maryland in the 17th century. This includes Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.
In terms of popularity, Carroll has been used consistently throughout history but never reached the heights of other names like John or Mary. It is still considered somewhat uncommon today and may be associated with an individualistic spirit due to its meaning and literary connections.
The name Carroll has been given to a total of 5,916 babies born in the United States since 1896, according to the data provided. The popularity of the name fluctuated over the years, with peaks and valleys.
In the early decades of the 20th century, there were fewer than ten births per year with the name Carroll each year until 1913 when it suddenly jumped to 29 births. This trend continued to rise steadily throughout the 1910s, reaching a high point in 1918 with 63 births.
The 1920s and early 1930s saw a decline in popularity for the name Carroll, with fewer than 76 births recorded each year. However, from 1930 onwards, there was another significant increase in popularity, reaching an all-time high of 208 births in 1943.
After World War II, the number of newborns named Carroll began to decline again. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, fewer than 100 babies were being given this name each year. This downward trend continued throughout the rest of the century until it reached its lowest point in recent years with only five births recorded in both 2005 and 2017.
Despite these fluctuations in popularity over time, Carroll remains a name that has been given to thousands of babies born in the United States since the late 19th century. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its unique sound and timelessness as a classic name choice.