Carlisle
Boy name · #3244 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Carlisle? In official American birth records, Carlisle has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
Carlisle ranks #3244 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 36 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3231, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 50,000 boys born in 2025 was named Carlisle.
The 137-year story
Carlisle first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 47 boys were named Carlisle — good for #2594 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Carlisle per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carlisle against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carlisle in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Carlisle is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Carlisle will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Carlisle is most common
State-level data for Carlisle is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Carlisle
Statistically, parents drawn to Carlisle tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cruze, Cashmere, Clive, Creedence, and Nyle.
CruzeCashmereCliveCreedenceNyleJohnlukeKaydenceChayce
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carlisle | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | #3240 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 34 | #3416 |
| 2022 | 38 | #3151 |
| 2021 | 42 | #2918 |
| 2020 | 40 | #2925 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3347 |
| 2018 | 42 | #2848 |
| 2017 | 40 | #2951 |
| 2016 | 39 | #2993 |
| 2015 | 35 | #3231 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 47 | #2594 |
| 2011 | 23 | #4221 |
| 2010 | 41 | #2874 |
| 2009 | 12 | #6802 |
| 2008 | 10 | #7698 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10921 |
| 2006 | 7 | #9585 |
| 2003 | 8 | #7831 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10556 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9112 |
| 1999 | 6 | #8704 |
| 1998 | 5 | #9631 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Carlisle?
In official American birth records, the name Carlisle first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Carlisle a popular boy name?
Carlisle ranked #3244 among boys in 2025 with 36 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3231.
When was the name Carlisle most popular?
Carlisle peaked in 2012, when 47 American boys received the name (ranked #2594 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carlisle?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 50,000 newborn American boys was named Carlisle. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.