Carol is a female given name of English origin. It is derived from the male name Caroline, which is a feminine form of the masculine name Carolus. Carolus itself comes from the Latin name Carolus, which means "strong" or "freeholder". The name Carol has been used as both a given name and a surname throughout history.
The use of Carol as a given name can be traced back to medieval England, where it was often given to boys born around Christmas time. The popularity of the name likely stems from its association with Charles, the Martyr, who was a French king during the Middle Ages. Saint Charles became a popular saint in England after his death, and many children were named after him as a result.
Over time, Carol evolved into a unisex given name that could be used for both boys and girls. In some cases, it is still used more frequently as a male name, while in others, it has become more commonly associated with females. Today, Carol is considered to be a classic name that is still popular in many English-speaking countries.
Some famous people named Carol include Carol Burnett, an American comedian and actress known for her work on The Carol Burnett Show, and Carol Ann Duffy, the former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. Overall, Carol is a timeless name with a strong historical heritage that continues to be used today.
The name Carol has seen a significant shift in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States. In the late 19th century, the number of babies named Carol was relatively low, with fewer than 30 births per year between 1880 and 1892. However, this began to change around the turn of the century.
In 1900, there were 70 births with the name Carol, a significant increase from just a decade earlier. This trend continued throughout the early 20th century, with the number of Carol births reaching triple digits by 1912 and quadrupling by 1923.
The 1920s and 1930s saw a substantial rise in popularity for the name Carol. In just two decades, the number of Carol births went from around 1,800 per year to over 14,500 per year. This trend peaked in 1937 with a total of 19,421 babies named Carol.
However, the popularity of the name Carol began to decline after World War II. Between 1946 and 1951, the number of Carol births fell from over 30,000 to around 24,800 per year. This downward trend continued throughout the remainder of the century.
By the 1970s, the number of Carol births had fallen below 2,000 per year, and it has remained relatively low ever since. In recent years, there have been fewer than 300 babies named Carol annually in the United States.
In total, over the past century and a half, there have been approximately 816,766 births to girls named Carol in the United States. Despite its decline in popularity in recent decades, Carol remains a classic name with historical significance.