Unisex name · peaked 1947

Caryl

Every Caryl since 1896 — 6,691 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Caryl
Peak year
1947
200 babies
All-time total
6,691
since 1896

The story of Caryl

Caryl is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1896, 6,691 American babies have been named Caryl — about 95% girls and 5% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1947, when 200 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Caryl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Caryl year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1995
1990
1985 10 #6,532
1980 13 #5,275
1975 16 #3,971
1970 40 #2,049
1965 69 #1,305
1960 112 #1,016 10 #2,705
1955 121 #883
1950 165 #664 5 #3,766
1945 135 #625 6 #3,032
1940 154 #559 7 #2,913
1935 150 #526 8 #2,748
1930 130 #606 11 #2,469
1925 61 #954 11 #2,614
1920 41 #1,191 5 #4,391
1915 33 #1,199 6 #3,464
1910
1905 7 #1,562
1900 6 #1,757
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Caryl in 2025?

Caryl did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Caryl?

6,691 babies have been named Caryl in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Caryl most popular?

Caryl peaked in 1947, when 200 newborns received the name.

Is Caryl a boy or girl name?

Caryl is used for both: about 95% of babies named Caryl have been girls and 5% boys.

Is the name Caryl rising or falling?

Caryl has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Caryl

Compare Caryl with similar names →