Carroll is a unisex given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old Norse name Carl, which means "freeholder" or "strong". The name Carroll has been popular in English-speaking countries for centuries and was often used as a surname before being adopted as a given name.
The name Carroll became particularly well-known thanks to Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English writer and mathematician. He is famous for writing "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and its sequel "Through the Looking-Glass", which have become classic works of children's literature. These books feature characters with names like Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat.
Carroll was also used as a surname by the prominent American family of Carrolls who settled in Maryland in the 17th century. This includes Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.
In terms of popularity, Carroll has been used consistently throughout history but never reached the heights of other names like John or Mary. It is still considered somewhat uncommon today and may be associated with an individualistic spirit due to its meaning and literary connections.
"Carroll's popularity as a baby girl name peaked around World War II with over 200 births per year from 1942 to 1945, reaching a high of 238 in 1943. However, it experienced a significant decline post-war, dropping below 50 births annually by the late 1960s and remaining low since then, with fewer than 10 births per year recorded from 1996 onwards."