Carolina Name Meaning & Origin
Carolina
Origin of the name Carolina:
A feminine form of the Latin Carolus, which is a cognate of Charles (full-grown, a man, a freeman). Var: Carey, Cari, Carri, Carrie, Kari, Karrie.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Carolina Over Time

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Name Lists Featuring Carolina
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Contribute your knowledge to the name Carolina
- Comments and insights on the name Carolina
Popularity of Carolina: Carolina has never been as popular as her three-syllable sister (Caroline) in the United States, but she has held fast to the American female naming charts nonetheless. Carolina has generally maintained low to moderate usage. The low-point came during the 1940s and 1950s, but then she slowly rebounded during the latter part of the 20th century. The height of Carolina’s popularity was during 2004.
Alternate Pronunciation (Spanish: kah-ro-LEE-nah
According to the baby name book "Cool Names" by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, the name Carolina is 'cooler' than the names Caroline and Carol.
- Personal experiences with the name Carolina
My 3x great grandmother's name was Carolina. She was from Germany, and her nickname was Lena.
- Nicknames for Carolina
Callie, Caro, Carol, Carrie, Lina, Lena, KK, Linney, Nina, Carrot, Olina, Ina, Oli
- Meanings and history of the name Carolina
Meanings of Carolina: Song of Happiness, Joyous Song, Strong, Beautiful Woman, and Free-Woman.
Origin of Carolina: Carolina is the Latinate feminine form of the Medieval Latin male name, Carolus – which would eventually evolve into the English and French form of Charles. The name ultimately comes from the Germanic word “Karla” who means ‘free-woman’; also, documented starting in the 8th century in the Latinized forms Carola and Carla. Carolina became the French version (and ultimately the English by the 17th century).
History of Carolina: In 1663 Carolina was a North American colony named for King Charles II (the Latin form of the male proper name is Carolus). Earlier French colonists called the region Caroline (1564) in honor of Charles IX, King of France. A grant in 1629 by Charles I of England was named Carolina. The original site of the name is modern South Carolina.
- Famous real-life people named Carolina
Carolina Herrera, fashion designer
Carolina de Robertis, author
Carolina Munoz- Carolina in song, story & screen
"My Sweet Carolina," Ryan Adams
Carolina Liar, a Los Angeles rock band
"Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor
"Carolina Rua" The Chieftains
"Carolina" - Parmalee
"Carolina" - Kimbra
“Carolina” - Harry Styles