Carlin is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of American origin, predominantly used for males. It is derived from the Irish surname "O'Carroll," which originally meant "descendant of Cearbhall." The name Cearbhall itself comes from a personal name meaning "warlike" or "strong as a chariot." Over time, the surname O'Carroll has been anglicized into various forms, including Carlin. As a given name, Carlin is relatively modern and was likely popularized in part due to its similarity to more common names like Carl or Carol. It has gained some recognition through notable individuals such as American comedian George Carlin. Despite not being among the most prevalent names, Carlin possesses an appealing uniqueness that may appeal to those seeking a distinctive name for their child.
These statistics show a fluctuating trend in the number of babies named Carlin born each year over a span of nearly a century. The peak years for the name Carlin seem to be around the mid-1940s, late 1950s to early 1960s, and again in the mid-1970s, with a significant spike in the late 1980s to early 1990s. The total number of births recorded for the name Carlin over this period is 1908.