Caroline is a feminine given name of Latin origin that means "strong" or "vigorous." It is derived from the male Latin name Carolus, which was popular among medieval European royalty and nobility due to its association with Charlemagne, the powerful king of the Franks who united much of Europe in the late 8th and early 9th centuries.
The name Caroline first appeared as a given name for females in France during the Middle Ages, likely as a diminutive form of Carolus. However, it did not become widely popular until the 17th century when it was adopted by several European royal families. The most notable example is perhaps Queen Caroline of Ansbach (1683-1737), who became the consort of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland.
In England, Caroline gained popularity during the Georgian era (1714-1830) due to its use among royalty and aristocracy. It continued to be a popular choice for girls throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century. Today, Caroline remains a widely-used name in English-speaking countries and beyond.
Some famous individuals named Caroline include:
* Caroline of Brunswick (1751-1818), wife of King George IV of the United Kingdom
* Caroline O'Connor (born 1964), Australian stage actress
* Caroline Kennedy (born 1957), American lawyer, diplomat, and author; daughter of President John F. Kennedy
* Caroline Channing (born 1980), American television host and journalist
Based on the provided statistics for the name Caroline, we can observe several trends:
- The name's popularity fluctuated significantly over time, with a general increase from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
- The highest number of births recorded in a single year was in 1961, with 2199 births. This could be attributed to the baby boom generation being born around this period.
- Conversely, the lowest number of births occurred in 2023, with only 2859 births recorded so far (as of writing).
- There seems to be a recent decline in popularity, with the total births decreasing from 4437 in 2016 to 3026 in 2022.
- Overall, the name Caroline has been given to a total of 244999 babies over the course of these records.