The name Carole is a female given name of French origin. It is derived from the masculine name Charles, which means "free man" or "strong". The name has been popular throughout history and has been associated with many notable figures.
Carole was first used as a female name in France during the Middle Ages. It gained popularity in other European countries during the 16th century and has since become a widely recognized name worldwide.
The name Carole has been associated with several famous individuals throughout history, including:
* Carole Lombard (1908-1942), an American actress known for her comedic roles.
* Carole King (born 1942), an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1970s.
* Carole Shorenstein Hays (born 1946), an American theater producer and philanthropist.
Today, Carole remains a popular name for girls. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names given to newborn girls in the United States since the 1930s. The name is often shortened to Carol or Carla.
The name Carole experienced significant popularity from the early 1900s to around the mid-1950s, with a peak of over 4,000 births in some years during this period. However, since the late 1950s, its usage has steadily declined, reaching single-digit numbers by the early 2000s and maintaining low popularity up to the most recent data available from 2023.