What Does the Name Carol Mean?
Carol is a girl's name of Germanic (via Latin) origin meaning “free man.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Carol |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Germanic (via Latin) |
| Meaning | free man |
| Variants | Carole, Caroline, Carolyn, Karol, Carey |
| Popularity | A top 5 US girls' name in the 1930s-1940s |
The meaning and origin of Carol
The name Carol means “free man” and has Germanic (via Latin) origins. Originally a short form of Caroline, the feminine of Charles, from a Germanic element meaning 'free man' (later associated with the English word 'carol,' a joyful song). It peaked as a girls' name in the mid-20th century.
Variants and related names
Carol is related to several other names you may recognize: Carole, Caroline, Carolyn, Karol, Carey. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Carol?
A top 5 US girls' name in the 1930s-1940s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carol mean?+
The name Carol means “free man” and is of Germanic (via Latin) origin.
What is the origin of the name Carol?+
Carol originates from Germanic (via Latin).
Is Carol a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Carol has trended in the US over time.
Carol by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press