Karlin Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAR-lin //ˈkɑːr.lɪn//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: free man; German: little Karl
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karlin has its roots in various linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the name Karl, which is of Germanic origin. The name Karl itself comes from the Old High German "karal," meaning "man" or "free man." This term evolved through various forms, including the Latin "Carolus," which was popularized in medieval Europe.
The name made its way into English through the Norman Conquest of the 11th century, where it was adopted in forms such as Charles and later influenced the development of feminine variants like Karlin. Historically, the name Karl has been borne by numerous significant figures, including Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD, and various kings in Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
The name has also appeared in various cultural texts and translations, such as the King James Bible, where the name Charles is sometimes referenced in relation to nobility and leadership. The feminine form Karlin, while less common in historical texts, can be seen as a derivative that emerged in later centuries, reflecting the trend of feminizing traditionally masculine names.
Culturally, names derived from Karl have often been associated with strength, leadership, and nobility, which has contributed to their endurance over time. The name Karlin, while not as widely documented, carries with it the connotations of its root name, suggesting qualities of independence and resilience.
In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Karlie or Karla may also be noted, but the name Karlin stands on its own as a distinct feminine variant that reflects a rich historical lineage.
Famous people named Karlin
In this section, you will find notable people named Karlin. 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 Karlin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Karlin 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.
Karlin L. Smith is a mathematician best known for contributions to algebraic topology and homotopy theory.
Karlin Chan is a professional dancer best known for appearances on So You Think You Can Dance and various dance competitions.
Karlin Roth is a musician best known for his work in the indie rock band The Karlin Project.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karlin, 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 Karlin. 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 Karlin was first seen in the United States in 1938.
Karlin has ranked as high as #6993 nationally, which occurred in 1999, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Karlin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Karlin 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 Karlin 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 Karlin.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 2017 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| 2016 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 2015 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 2014 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| 2012 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 2011 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2007 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 2006 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 2003 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| 2002 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 2001 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 2000 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1999 | 27 | 14 | 13 |
| 1998 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1997 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1996 | 25 | 9 | 16 |
| 1995 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 1994 | 25 | 10 | 15 |
| 1993 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1992 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1991 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 1990 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1989 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1988 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1987 | 25 | 11 | 14 |
| 1986 | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| 1985 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 1984 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1983 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1981 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1980 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1979 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1978 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1977 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1972 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 1971 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 1970 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1969 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 1968 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1967 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1965 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1964 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1963 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1962 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1960 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1959 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1958 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1956 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1952 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1951 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1946 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1945 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1944 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1938 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Karlin (2012)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 5 |