Carolee is a feminine given name of American origin. It is a variant spelling of the more common name Carol, which itself comes from the Middle English name Carola and ultimately derives from the Germanic elements "kar" meaning "strong" or "free man" and "hild" meaning "battle". Thus, Carolee means "strong in battle".
The use of Carolee as a given name has not been widespread throughout history. It is a relatively modern name that became more popular during the mid-20th century when many parents opted for unique spellings of traditional names.
Some notable people named Carolee include American actress Carolee Campbell, known for her roles in television shows and films such as "Days of Our Lives" and "Criminal Minds", as well as Canadian singer-songwriter Carolee Carmello, who has performed on Broadway and has been nominated for multiple Tony Awards.
Here are some interesting statistics regarding the name Carolee in the United States:
From 1917 to 2021, there were a total of 4458 babies named Carolee born in the U.S. The name's popularity peaked in 1934 with a whopping 138 births that year alone.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, the name was quite popular, with over 60 births each year between 1932 and 1945. The highest point was reached in 1943 with 266 births.
However, as time passed, Carolee's popularity waned significantly. From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, fewer than 80 babies were named Carolee each year on average. The lowest point was reached in 1966 with only 30 births.
In recent years, the name has seen a slight resurgence, with around 5-13 babies named Carolee born annually between 2004 and 2021. Despite this increase, it remains quite rare compared to its peak decades ago.