Carol
A boys’ name of Germanic origin, meaning free man or strong; a form of Charles.
Carol by the numbers
In 2025, 11 babies in England and Wales were named Carol. In the US, 113 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 34,284 babies in 1946, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Charles
Like Carol, each of these traces back to Charles: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Charlottefree woman; feminine form of Charles12,900 in the US (2017)
- Carolinefree woman; feminine form of Charles4,270 in the US (2017)
- Charleyfree man; a form of Charles703 in the US (2017)
- Charleighfree man; a form of Charles667 in the US (2017)
- Charlifree man; a form of Charles526 in the US (2017)
- Charlizefree man; a form of Charles185 in the US (2017)
- Charlenefree person; a form of Charles152 in the US (2017)
- Carlofree man; Italian form of Charles27 in England and Wales (2025)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Carol. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Carlfree man; a form of Charles411 in the US (2017)
- Carolesong of joy; a form of Carol8 in the US (2017)
- Carrola form of caroline or carol, free woman
- Carsonson of the marsh-dweller4,910 in the US (2017)
- Carlosfree man; a form of Charles3,058 in the US (2017)
- Cairothe victorious; from al-Qahira; place name used as given name93 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Carol
Names that are said the same way as Carol, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean freedom
Like Carol, each of these has freedom in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Charlesfree man7,142 in the US (2017)
- Maverickindependent, unbranded4,737 in the US (2017)
- Charliefree man1,679 in England and Wales (2025)
- Franciscofree man, frenchman; from Franciscus1,398 in the US (2017)
- Frankiefree man; a form of Frank887 in England and Wales (2025)
- Frankfree man272 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean strength
Like Carol, each of these has strength in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Liamresolute protector; short form of William18,764 in the US (2017)
- Williamresolute protector14,922 in the US (2017)
- Ethanstrong, enduring12,398 in the US (2017)
- GabrielGod is my strength9,110 in the US (2017)
- Aaronmountain of strength; exalted7,185 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Carol
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