Carolina
Girl name · #405 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Carolina? In official American birth records, Carolina has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 769 baby girls were named Carolina, placing it at #405 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #432, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,341 girls born in 2025 was named Carolina.
Babies named Carolina per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Carolina first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 1,270 girls were named Carolina — good for #254 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carolina against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carolina in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Carolina is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Carolina is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carolina is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Carolina is most common in TX (1.2 per 1,000), SC (0.9 per 1,000), CA (0.8 per 1,000), AZ (0.8 per 1,000), IL (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Carolina is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Carolina
Statistically, parents drawn to Carolina tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Angelina, Paulina, Melina, Celina, and Marina.
AngelinaPaulinaMelinaCelinaMarinaAdrianaJuliannaSabrina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carolina | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 769 | #405 |
| 2024 | 718 | #429 |
| 2023 | 730 | #420 |
| 2022 | 664 | #477 |
| 2021 | 609 | #511 |
| 2020 | 684 | #450 |
| 2019 | 756 | #414 |
| 2018 | 740 | #420 |
| 2017 | 722 | #439 |
| 2016 | 775 | #421 |
| 2015 | 732 | #432 |
| 2014 | 788 | #407 |
| 2013 | 712 | #428 |
| 2012 | 723 | #432 |
| 2011 | 729 | #430 |
| 2010 | 822 | #389 |
| 2009 | 828 | #387 |
| 2008 | 925 | #357 |
| 2007 | 1,020 | #329 |
| 2006 | 1,196 | #280 |
| 2005 | 1,133 | #291 |
| 2004 | 1,270 | #254 |
| 2003 | 1,216 | #262 |
| 2002 | 1,074 | #289 |
| 2001 | 1,207 | #265 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Carolina?
In official American birth records, the name Carolina first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Carolina a popular girl name?
Carolina ranked #405 among girls in 2025 with 769 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #432.
When was the name Carolina most popular?
Carolina peaked in 2004, when 1,270 American girls received the name (ranked #254 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carolina?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,341 newborn American girls was named Carolina. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.