Carlyn Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Carlyn is an English name rooted in the Latin 'Carolus', meaning 'free man'. It evolved from Caroline and gained popularity in the late 20th century. The name is associated with traits of individuality and strength, and it does not have biblical relevance.
The name Carlyn is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Carlyn has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Carlyn' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7050th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4152nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2294th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1319th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1579th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2301st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2012th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3223rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5734th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Carlyn' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Carlyn"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑr.lɪn/
Origin
English
Etymology
Carlyn is a modern variation of the name Caroline, which derives from the Latin 'Carolus', meaning 'free man'.
Meaning
free man
Language Evolution
Carolus (Latin), Caroline (French), Carlyn (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Carlyn gained popularity in the late 20th century as a feminine name derived from Caroline.
Variants & Derivatives
Caroline, Carla, Carly
Modern Popularity & Image
Carlyn is perceived as a modern, unique name that conveys a sense of individuality and strength.
Famous People
Carlyn Beaudoin, an American author, Carlyn P. Dorr, a notable scientist
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Carlyn"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Carlyn"
"Carlyn" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 7050th of 7545 | 7 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4152nd of 6773 | 50 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2294th of 9107 | 262 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1319th of 9204 | 613 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1579th of 12526 | 833 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2301st of 19264 | 566 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2012th of 27321 | 986 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3223rd of 35406 | 766 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5734th of 30306 | 263 |
Regional Popularity of "Carlyn" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Carlyn" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
94.27% 1300th/1379 |
75.87% 1795th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
89.07% 1377th/1546 |
82.13% 1278th/1556 |
81.68% 1922nd/2353 |
77.31% 1196th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
85.77% 1910th/2227 |
79.05% 1921st/2430 |
73.50% 2097th/2853 |
59.78% 1659th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
70.03% 2439th/3483 |
85.42% 3005th/3518 |
50.94% 2060th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
60.95% 2246th/3685 |
56.31% 2520th/4475 |
45.48% 2362nd/5194 |
37.28% 2355th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
83.65% 3833rd/4582 |
92.12% 4757th/5164 |
53.52% 3914th/7313 |
62.05% 4631st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
79.40% 5417th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Carlyn"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Carlyn" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.