UK boy's name
Carlin
A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "little champion" or "little man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Carlin is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Carlin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 6 births.
This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Carlin. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Carlin ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 boys were registered as Carlin.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Carlin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
6 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Carlin mean?
The name Carlin has its roots in the Old English language and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th century AD. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "ceorl," which referred to a freeman or a peasant farmer.
The name Carlin is thought to have been initially used as a surname, referring to individuals who were of peasant or working-class origin. Over time, it transitioned into being used as a given name, particularly in English-speaking regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carlin can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions several individuals with the surname "Carlin" or similar spellings, indicating the name's usage during the Norman period.
In the Middle Ages, the name Carlin was relatively uncommon, but it gained more popularity during the Renaissance period. One notable individual with this name was Carlin Petersen (1480-1542), a Danish theologian and scholar who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Denmark.
Another prominent figure with the name Carlin was Carlin Nilsson Stjerneman (1598-1677), a Swedish military officer and governor of the Swedish province of Ingria (now part of Russia). He was known for his leadership during the Ingrian War between Sweden and Russia in the mid-17th century.
In the 18th century, Carlin Lossius (1723-1800) was a German philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of logic and metaphysics. He was a professor at the University of Göttingen and was highly regarded for his academic work.
In the world of literature, Carlin Stubborn (1815-1882) was an American writer and poet who gained recognition for her descriptive and evocative poetry about nature and the American frontier. Her works captured the essence of life in the Western United States during the 19th century.
More recently, Carlin Quaye (1945-2010) was a Ghanaian musician and songwriter who played a pivotal role in the development of the highlife genre, a fusion of traditional Ghanaian music with Western influences. He was widely acclaimed for his innovative style and his contributions to the music scene in Ghana.
While the name Carlin has its origins in Old English and has been used across various cultures and time periods, it remains a relatively uncommon given name in modern times. However, its historical significance and varied associations make it a unique and intriguing choice for those interested in names with a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Carlin over time
The chart below shows babies named Carlin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Carlin, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carlin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Carlin was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4682 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3220 | 30 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2645 | 14 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Carlin
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Carlin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Carlin in the UK right now?
In 2013, Carlin was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Carlin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Carlin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Carlin?
A masculine name of Celtic origin meaning "little champion" or "little man".
How many people are called Carlin in the UK?
A total of 50 babies have been registered as Carlin across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.