Carlisle Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: CAR-lile //ˈkɑːr.laɪl//
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: from the walled city; Scottish: from the land of the Carl
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Carlisle has its roots in the Old Norse and Latin languages. It is derived from the Old Norse word "karl," meaning "man," combined with the Latin suffix "-is," which denotes a place.
The name is believed to have originated from the city of Carlisle in Cumbria, England, which has a rich history dating back to Roman times when it was known as Luguvalium. The name was adopted into Middle English as "Carlisle," reflecting both its geographical significance and its association with the local populace.
Historically, Carlisle has been significant since at least the Roman occupation of Britain in the 1st century CE. The city served as a military outpost and later became a vital administrative center.
In the medieval period, Carlisle was a strategic location due to its proximity to the Scottish border, leading to its fortification and importance in various conflicts, including the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. The name itself gained prominence through notable figures associated with the city, including local nobility and ecclesiastical leaders.
Culturally, the name Carlisle carries connotations of strength and resilience, reflective of the city's historical role as a bastion against invasions and its enduring presence through various political changes. The name has also been associated with the literary and artistic heritage of the region, as it features in various works that highlight the historical and cultural significance of the area.
The diminutive form "Carl" may also be noted, though it is less commonly used in historical contexts. Overall, the name Carlisle encapsulates a blend of linguistic heritage and historical depth, making it a name of considerable significance.
Famous people named Carlisle
In this section, you will find notable people named Carlisle. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Carlisle who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Carlisle who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Carlisle Floyd is a composer and conductor best known for Of Mice and Men, Susannah, and Wuthering Heights.
Carlisle Smith is a notable figure in the field of sports medicine, recognized for his contributions to athletic training and rehabilitation.
Fictional characters named Carlisle
The following list of fictional characters named Carlisle is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Carlisle Cullen is a fictional character from the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. He is the compassionate and wise patriarch of the Cullen vampire family, known for his medical skills and desire to coexist peacefully with humans.
Carlisle is a fictional character from the animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. He is a minor character who is a member of the Wattersons' extended family, known for his quirky personality.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carlisle, 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 Carlisle. 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 Carlisle was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Carlisle has ranked as high as #4848 nationally, which occurred in 2010, and has been most popular in South Carolina, Texas, New York, Virginia, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Carlisle has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Carlisle 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 Carlisle 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 Carlisle.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 45 | 36 | 9 |
| 2024 | 48 | 36 | 12 |
| 2023 | 50 | 34 | 16 |
| 2022 | 49 | 38 | 11 |
| 2021 | 54 | 42 | 12 |
| 2020 | 56 | 40 | 16 |
| 2019 | 40 | 34 | 6 |
| 2018 | 55 | 42 | 13 |
| 2017 | 52 | 40 | 12 |
| 2016 | 54 | 39 | 15 |
| 2015 | 49 | 35 | 14 |
| 2014 | 49 | 35 | 14 |
| 2013 | 47 | 29 | 18 |
| 2012 | 57 | 47 | 10 |
| 2011 | 33 | 23 | 10 |
| 2010 | 62 | 41 | 21 |
| 2009 | 24 | 12 | 12 |
| 2008 | 24 | 10 | 14 |
| 2007 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 2006 | 22 | 7 | 15 |
| 2005 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2003 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2001 | 19 | 5 | 14 |
| 2000 | 20 | 6 | 14 |
| 1999 | 21 | 6 | 15 |
| 1998 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1997 | 24 | 8 | 16 |
| 1996 | 21 | 5 | 16 |
| 1995 | 17 | 7 | 10 |
| 1994 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1993 | 25 | 11 | 14 |
| 1992 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1991 | 18 | 6 | 12 |
| 1990 | 23 | 11 | 12 |
| 1989 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1988 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1987 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1986 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1983 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1981 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1978 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1977 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1974 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1973 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1972 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1971 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1970 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1968 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1967 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1964 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1963 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1962 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1961 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1960 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1959 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1957 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1956 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1955 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1954 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1953 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1952 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1951 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1950 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1949 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1948 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1947 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1946 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1945 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1944 | 26 | 20 | 6 |
| 1943 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1942 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1941 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1940 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1939 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1938 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1937 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1936 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1935 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1934 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1933 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1932 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1931 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1930 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1929 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1928 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1927 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1926 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1925 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1924 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1923 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1922 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1921 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1920 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1919 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1918 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1917 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1916 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1915 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1914 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1913 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1912 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1906 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1898 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1896 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1894 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1893 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1890 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1888 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Top States for Carlisle (2022)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 | |
| TN | 5 |