unisex name
Carroll
KARR-ul (English)
- Origin Irish
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 2
- Letters 7
- Births on record 41,350
Carroll is one of the more evenly divided names on this site — 14 percent of recorded births are female, and it belonged to the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.
- Carroll is a name of Irish origin.
- Peaked in 1943, when 1,033 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Carroll Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 290 |
| 1890s | 511 |
| 1900s | 715 |
| 1910s | 4,126 |
| 1920s | 7,362 |
| 1930s | 9,117 |
| 1940s | 8,800 |
| 1950s | 5,122 |
| 1960s | 2,681 |
| 1970s | 1,303 |
| 1980s | 719 |
| 1990s | 357 |
| 2000s | 123 |
| 2010s | 97 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 24 |
What Carroll Means
Carroll means fierce in battle, or hacking. The Irish root concerns cutting and slashing, so the byname describes conduct in a fight rather than rank.
Where Carroll Comes From
Carroll anglicizes the Irish Ó Cearbhaill, descendant of Cearbhall — built on cearbh, a root meaning to hack or cut. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was the only Catholic signatory of the Declaration of Independence and its longest-lived signer. Lewis Carroll is a pen name, built by latinising Charles Lutwidge into Carolus Ludovicus and reversing it, so it is unrelated to the Irish surname.
Carroll in Use
Carroll peaked in the United States in 1943, when 1,033 babies were registered, and it is stable rather than falling. It charts in no market in the most recent year, despite 41,350 lifetime births. Ireland recorded a small series peaking at three births in 1979, and about 14 percent of recorded births are female.
How Popular Is Carroll?
In 2023, Carroll was given to 8 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Where Carroll Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Carroll
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Carroll Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Carroll over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Carroll
- English KARR-ul /ˈkæɹ.əl/
Carroll in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Carroll
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Carroll — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Carroll
What does the name Carroll mean?
Fierce in battle — the Irish cearbh, to hack or cut.
Who was Charles Carroll?
The only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence, and its longest-lived signer.
Is Lewis Carroll related?
No. He latinised Charles Lutwidge and reversed it, so the resemblance is coincidental.
Is Carroll a boys' or girls' name?
Mostly boys — about 14 percent of recorded births are female.
How popular is the name Carroll?
In 2023, Carroll was given to 8 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
How many syllables are in Carroll?
Carroll has 2 syllables.
When was Carroll most popular?
Carroll peaked in 1943, when 1,033 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.