Name meaning & stats
Carol
Carol (Germanic origin). 673,077 US babies since 1940, peak 1946. Notable Carols are 1.7× over-represented as professors.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Germanic
A short form of Caroline.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1946
673,077 US babies were named Carol between 1940 and 2025. Carol is often a nickname, so many people called Carol are registered under a longer name.
Where Carols end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.5× | High · 64 people |
| Writer | 1.1× | High · 60 people |
| Professor | 1.7× | High · 51 people |
| Actor | 0.6× | High · 41 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Carols show up 1.7× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Carol has a surprise career: 1.7×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 83% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1946)