Carolyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the name Caroline, which itself is a variant of Carol, meaning "freeholder" or "strong." The name Carolyn has been popular in the United States since the mid-20th century and reached its peak popularity in the 1960s. Today, it is still widely used but less common than it once was.
The earliest recorded use of the name Carolyn can be traced back to the late 19th century in England. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that the name began to gain widespread popularity, particularly in the United States. This rise in popularity can be attributed to several factors, including its similarity to other popular names of the time such as Carol and Caroline.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Carolyn. One prominent example is Carolyn Kennedy, daughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Another famous Carolyn is Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., who tragically died in a plane crash along with her husband and sister-in-law in 1999.
Today, the name Carolyn continues to be a popular choice for parents looking for a traditional yet distinctive name for their daughters. Its classic sound and meaning make it a timeless option that has stood the test of time.
Based on the provided statistics, we can analyze the trend of the name Carolyn in the United States from 1915 to 1995.
The name Carolyn first appeared with a notable number of births in 1915, with 10 babies named Carolyn that year. The popularity of the name continued to grow, reaching its peak in 1943 with 76 births, indicating that it was quite fashionable during this period.
However, after 1943, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily. By 1950, there were only 25 births, and this trend continued until the late 1960s when the number of newborn girls named Carolyn fell below 20 annually.
The 1970s saw a further decrease in the usage of the name Carolyn, with an average of fewer than 10 babies named Carolyn per year. This low level of popularity persisted throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, with only a handful of births each year.
In summary, while Carolyn was a popular name in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century, particularly between 1937 and 1943, its popularity waned thereafter. Since the late 1960s, the name has been given to relatively few newborn girls each year.