UK girl's name
Karoline
A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "free woman".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karoline is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Karoline popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2002 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Karoline. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karoline ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 4 girls were registered as Karoline.
- • Karoline ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #530 in 1982.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karoline as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4764
2011
Births in 2011
4
Latest year
Peak year
2002
4 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Karoline mean?
The given name Karoline has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically from the Old German word "karl" which means "man" or "husband." It is also derived from the Old English word "ceorl" and the Old Norse word "karl" which have similar meanings. The name Karoline is a feminine form of the masculine name Karl or Charles.
In the Middle Ages, the name Karoline became popular in various European countries, particularly in Germany, France, and England. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Karoline dates back to the 9th century when a German noblewoman named Karoline von Swabia lived during the reign of Charlemagne.
The name Karoline gained further prominence during the Renaissance period. In the 16th century, Karoline von Brandenburg (1516-1619) was a German princess who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. She was known for her support of the Reformation and her involvement in the religious and political affairs of her time.
In the 18th century, Karoline Neuber (1697-1760) was a famous German actress and theater director who contributed to the development of German theater. She was highly influential in her field and is considered one of the pioneers of modern acting techniques.
Another notable figure with the name Karoline was Karoline Herschel (1750-1848), a German astronomer. She was the first woman to be paid for her contributions to science and made significant discoveries in astronomy, including the discovery of several comets.
During the 19th century, Karoline Michaelis-Böhmen (1835-1905) was a Danish writer and feminist who fought for women's rights and advocated for the improvement of women's education and social status.
Karoline Jagemann (1777-1848) was a German actress and writer who was highly regarded for her performances in both classical and contemporary plays. She was also known for her literary works, including novels and memoirs.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Karoline. The name has been widely used across various cultures and has a rich historical significance, reflecting its Germanic roots and the influence of those who carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Karoline over time
The chart below shows babies named Karoline registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Karoline, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karoline by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karoline 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 | #5236 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3409 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Karoline is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Karoline. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Karoline ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #530 in 1982.
Across the UK
Karoline in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#530 in 1982
2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Karoline
-
Karoline Leach
writer; playwright
British writer
1967-
Related
Names similar to Karoline
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Karoline: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karoline in the UK right now?
In 2011, Karoline was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Karoline most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 4 babies registered as Karoline in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karoline?
A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "free woman".
How many people are called Karoline in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Karoline across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.
Where is Karoline most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Karoline ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #530 in 1982. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.