Carolan is a unique and distinctive given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname Ó'Carrollain, which means "descendant of Cearbhall" or "little hardy one." The name Cearbhall itself comes from the Old Irish word "cairbre," meaning "spear," and "maol," meaning "devoted to God."
The surname Ó'Carrollain was first recorded in Ireland during the 13th century, and it is believed that Carolan as a given name emerged around this time. The name gained popularity among the Irish nobility and has since become associated with several notable figures in Irish history.
One of the most famous bearers of the name Carolan is Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), also known as the "Blind Harper" or "O'Carolan the Bard." Born into a wealthy landowning family, he lost his sight at an early age due to smallpox. Despite this adversity, he became one of the most renowned harpists and composers in Irish history, composing over 200 pieces during his lifetime.
Today, Carolan is still a unique and uncommon name, but its association with Irish culture, history, and musical talent makes it an attractive choice for parents looking for something distinctive for their child. It is also sometimes used as a female name, although it is more commonly given to boys. Overall, the name Carolan is a beautiful and meaningful option that reflects its rich Irish heritage.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Carolan in the United States from 1940 to 1998. Over this period of time, there were a total of 148 babies named Carolan born across the country.
The years with the highest number of Carolan births were 1948 and 2019, with 11 births each. Interestingly, the name's popularity appears to have peaked in the late 1940s to early 1950s, with more than five births recorded every year from 1947 to 1951.
After this peak, the number of Carolan births began to decline steadily throughout the remainder of the century. There were no recorded Carolan births in several years during the 1960s and 1970s, and only a few sporadic occurrences in the 1980s and 1990s.
Overall, while Carolan was not one of the most popular names in the United States during this period, it did have some periods of modest popularity. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues or changes in future years based on updated statistics.