Carlin Unisex

Popularity: #925 · 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 #2673 nationally, which occurred in 1998, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 30 13 17
2024 26 12 14
2023 31 14 17
2022 50 23 27
2021 38 18 20
2020 49 23 26
2019 51 26 25
2018 59 32 27
2017 61 34 27
2016 62 39 23
2015 67 32 35
2014 55 29 26
2013 64 37 27
2012 58 38 20
2011 56 30 26
2010 63 36 27
2009 76 45 31
2008 89 54 35
2007 61 32 29
2006 62 42 20
2005 74 41 33
2004 75 37 38
2003 75 35 40
2002 61 29 32
2001 70 32 38
2000 91 40 51
1999 96 51 45
1998 107 56 51
1997 82 38 44
1996 80 39 41
1995 89 42 47
1994 83 46 37
1993 84 50 34
1992 102 62 40
1991 87 39 48
1990 91 46 45
1989 74 46 28
1988 64 28 36
1987 82 45 37
1986 64 34 30
1985 62 41 21
1984 65 48 17
1983 56 35 21
1982 53 29 24
1981 57 34 23
1980 43 25 18
1979 49 33 16
1978 36 14 22
1977 29 17 12
1976 35 22 13
1975 38 22 16
1974 37 15 22
1973 39 21 18
1972 27 16 11
1971 36 22 14
1970 31 15 16
1969 31 14 17
1968 33 14 19
1967 14 14 0
1966 34 25 9
1965 21 16 5
1964 28 18 10
1963 26 9 17
1962 29 11 18
1961 33 21 12
1960 38 24 14
1959 38 21 17
1958 25 19 6
1957 31 14 17
1956 32 19 13
1955 24 12 12
1954 28 19 9
1953 29 16 13
1952 27 14 13
1951 24 10 14
1950 34 17 17
1949 20 12 8
1948 29 14 15
1947 35 23 12
1946 28 17 11
1945 18 9 9
1944 9 9 0
1943 26 15 11
1942 23 13 10
1941 17 12 5
1940 22 17 5
1939 22 15 7
1938 14 14 0
1937 15 15 0
1936 17 17 0
1935 8 8 0
1934 32 26 6
1933 6 6 0
1932 15 15 0
1931 7 7 0
1930 15 15 0
1929 10 10 0
1928 10 10 0
1927 12 12 0
1926 7 7 0
1925 13 13 0
1924 14 14 0
1923 11 11 0
1922 6 6 0
1921 16 11 5
1920 14 9 5
1919 6 6 0
1918 13 13 0
1917 7 7 0
1916 7 7 0
1915 11 11 0
1914 9 9 0
1912 5 5 0
1905 5 5 0

Top States for Carlin (2020)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%