The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Caroline!

Comments and insights on the name Caroline: | Edit

We named our daughter Caroline; it's a family name. I like it because it is strong, yet elegant and feminine, but not cutesy. It's not overly common, either. We've been told it is a 'southern' name - the map seems to reflect that.

Caroline is like the female William, you just can't go wrong with this name!

According to the baby name book "Cool Names" by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, the name Caroline is 'cool', while the name Carolina is 'cooler' and the name Carol is 'uncool'.

Personal experiences with the name Caroline: | Edit

Caroline is a beautiful, classic name, but every Caroline I've ever met has been nasty (a total of 4)...I don't know. It's kind of turned me off the name but it is very very beautiful.

Frequently confused with "Carolyn"
Last syllable usu. pron. "line" but sometimes pron. "lyn"
Spanish variant: "Carolina" (pron. kar-o-LEE-na)

my god sister's name is caroline, and it fits her really well. she's really funny, and wild and crazy. i know another caroline who is a little preppy, but really kind and funny. i think its a really versatile name. you can't go wrong! :D

Nicknames for Caroline: | Edit

Cara, Carrie, Cary, Carol, Callie, Caddie, Caro, Carly, Lina, Linny, Lin, Lina-Lu, Lu-Lu, Carolina-Lu, C.C., Cali, Liney, Care-bear

Meanings and history of the name Caroline: | Edit

Latin, means "Beautiful woman"

Famous real-life people named Caroline: | Edit

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of President John F. Kennedy
Caroline Healey Dall (1822-1912), American suffragist
Caroline Miskel-Hoyt (1873-1898), Canadian stage actress
Caroline Lee Hentz (1800-1856), American writer
Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson Calvert (1834-1872), Australian naturalist
Caroline Julia Bartlett Crane (1858-1935), American reformer
Caroline Scott Harrison, First Lady and wife of Benjamin Harrison
Caroline Link (b. 1964), German filmmaker
Caroline Hazard (1856-1945), American college president
Caroline White Soule (1824-1903), American religious leader
Carolina Herrera, fashion designer (Span. var of Caroline)
Queen Caroline of Ansbach, consort of George II of England
Queen Caroline of Brunswick, consort of George IV of England
Princess Caroline of Monaco, now Princess of Hanover
Caroline Myss, New Age self-help writer
Lady Caroline Lamb, British Regency era beauty, author of Glenarvon
Caroline Rhea, Canadian actress
Caroline Trentini, Vogue model

Caroline in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Sweet Caroline," a song by Neil Diamond, and done in Glee!!!
"Caroline in the City," TV show
Caroline Ingalls, a character in "Little House on the Prairie"
"Caroline," a song by David Gray
"Caroline No," a song by the Beach Boys
"Caroline," a song by Concrete Blonde