Carlin Unisex
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 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2011 | 30 |
| 2010 | 36 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2008 | 54 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2005 | 41 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2003 | 35 |
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2000 | 40 |
| 1999 | 51 |
| 1998 | 56 |
| 1997 | 38 |
| 1996 | 39 |
| 1995 | 42 |
| 1994 | 46 |
| 1993 | 50 |
| 1992 | 62 |
| 1991 | 39 |
| 1990 | 46 |
| 1989 | 46 |
| 1988 | 28 |
| 1987 | 45 |
| 1986 | 34 |
| 1985 | 41 |
| 1984 | 48 |
| 1983 | 35 |
| 1982 | 29 |
| 1981 | 34 |
| 1980 | 25 |
| 1979 | 33 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 17 |
| 1976 | 22 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 21 |
| 1972 | 16 |
| 1971 | 22 |
| 1970 | 15 |
| 1969 | 14 |
| 1968 | 14 |
| 1967 | 14 |
| 1966 | 25 |
| 1965 | 16 |
| 1964 | 18 |
| 1963 | 9 |
| 1962 | 11 |
| 1961 | 21 |
| 1960 | 24 |
| 1959 | 21 |
| 1958 | 19 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 19 |
| 1955 | 12 |
| 1954 | 19 |
| 1953 | 16 |
| 1952 | 14 |
| 1951 | 10 |
| 1950 | 17 |
| 1949 | 12 |
| 1948 | 14 |
| 1947 | 23 |
| 1946 | 17 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 9 |
| 1943 | 15 |
| 1942 | 13 |
| 1941 | 12 |
| 1940 | 17 |
| 1939 | 15 |
| 1938 | 14 |
| 1937 | 15 |
| 1936 | 17 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 26 |
| 1933 | 6 |
| 1932 | 15 |
| 1931 | 7 |
| 1930 | 15 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1927 | 12 |
| 1926 | 7 |
| 1925 | 13 |
| 1924 | 14 |
| 1923 | 11 |
| 1922 | 6 |
| 1921 | 11 |
| 1920 | 9 |
| 1919 | 6 |
| 1918 | 13 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1914 | 9 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1905 | 5 |