Carlin Unisex

Popularity: #912 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: CAR-lin //ˈkɑːr.lɪn//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: 'little champion'; English: 'from the place of the weir'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Carlin has its roots in the Irish and Gaelic languages, derived from the name "Carlín," which is a diminutive form of "Carroll." The etymology of Carroll traces back to the Gaelic "O' Cearbhaill," meaning "descendant of Cearbhall," where "Cearbhall" is composed of elements meaning "warrior" or "fierce." The name underwent various transformations as it was adopted into English, particularly during the periods of Irish emigration and the subsequent influence of Gaelic culture on English naming conventions. Historically, the name Carlin has been associated with notable figures in Irish history, particularly during the medieval period when Gaelic names were prevalent.

The use of the name Carroll became more widespread in the 17th century, particularly among the Irish nobility and clergy. The name Carlin itself, while less common, has been documented in various records, including church registers and historical texts, reflecting the cultural significance of Gaelic names during this era.

The name's association with strength and valor contributed to its endurance in Irish and subsequently English-speaking contexts. Culturally, the name Carlin embodies a connection to Irish heritage and identity, often evoking themes of bravery and lineage.

It resonates with the tradition of using surnames as first names, a practice that has historical roots in many cultures, including Irish. This practice reflects a broader trend in naming conventions where familial ties and ancestral pride are celebrated.

The diminutive form "Carl" is sometimes used, further emphasizing the name's familial and affectionate connotations. Overall, Carlin represents a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, rooted deeply in Irish history.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carlin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Carlin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Carlin was first seen in the United States in 1905.

Carlin has ranked as high as #1179 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Carlin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Carlin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Carlin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Carlin (2016)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
PA 6
100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Carlin.

YearBirths
202412
202314
202223
202118
202023
201926
201832
201734
201639
201532
201429
201337
201238
201130
201036
200945
200854
200732
200642
200541
200437
200335
200229
200132
200040
199951
199856
199738
199639
199542
199446
199350
199262
199139
199046
198946
198828
198745
198634
198541
198448
198335
198229
198134
198025
197933
197814
197717
197622
197522
197415
197321
197216
197122
197015
196914
196814
196714
196625
196516
196418
19639
196211
196121
196024
195921
195819
195714
195619
195512
195419
195316
195214
195110
195017
194912
194814
194723
194617
19459
19449
194315
194213
194112
194017
193915
193814
193715
193617
19358
193426
19336
193215
19317
193015
192910
192810
192712
19267
192513
192414
192311
19226
192111
19209
19196
191813
19177
19167
191511
19149
19125
19055