The name Carole is a female given name of French origin. It is derived from the masculine name Charles, which means "free man" or "strong". The name has been popular throughout history and has been associated with many notable figures.
Carole was first used as a female name in France during the Middle Ages. It gained popularity in other European countries during the 16th century and has since become a widely recognized name worldwide.
The name Carole has been associated with several famous individuals throughout history, including:
* Carole Lombard (1908-1942), an American actress known for her comedic roles.
* Carole King (born 1942), an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1970s.
* Carole Shorenstein Hays (born 1946), an American theater producer and philanthropist.
Today, Carole remains a popular name for girls. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names given to newborn girls in the United States since the 1930s. The name is often shortened to Carol or Carla.
The statistics provided show the number of births given the name Carole in the United States each year from 1901 to 2020. The data illustrates a significant trend over time, with notable fluctuations.
In the early years, there were fewer than 50 births per year with the name Carole. However, starting around the 1930s, we see a significant increase in popularity. The number of babies named Carole reached its peak in 1942 with 8,407 births that year.
After World War II, the popularity of the name Carole began to decline steadily. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were fewer than 500 babies named Carole each year. This trend continued throughout the following decades, with the annual number of births with the name Carole often falling below 50.
In recent years, the number of babies named Carole has remained relatively low, with between 5 to 13 births per year since 2009. The most recent data available shows that in 2020, there were 7 births given the name Carole in the United States.
Overall, while Carole was once a popular name in the mid-20th century, its popularity has significantly decreased over time. Despite this decline, the name Carole continues to be given to a small number of babies each year in the United States.