The story behind Carol
Shortened from Caroline. Associated by folk etymology with the English noun carol.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
English entry
Shortened from Latin Carolus; also an Anglicization of Romanian Carol, or Polish or Slovak Karol, all cognates of the English Charles.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkæ.ɹəl/
Popularity
Carol ranked #2242 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Carol
Carrol
A female given name from the Germanic languages, of less common usage, variant of Carol.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Carroll
A female given name from the Germanic languages, of less common usage, variant of Carol.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz. The female name is a rare variant of Adele. The surname is borrowed from German Adel. Variant of Adil, from Arabic عَادِل (ʕādil).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adél
From French Adèle.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adell
From Proto-Germanic *aþalaz.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Axel
From Danish Aksel, first used for the bishop and statesman Absalon Hvide (1128–1201), from biblical Absalom. Some sources suggest that the bishop was originally named Áskell,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Carol
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adelaide
Borrowed from French Adélaïde, from Old High German Adalheid (from adal (“noble”) + heit (“nature, character”)), modern German Adelheid; doublet of Alice.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adeline
From Old French Adeline, a diminutive form of Adela and Adele brought to England by the Normans.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Carol
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length