Karlin
Every Karlin since 1938 — 886 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Karlin
Karlin 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 1938, 886 American babies have been named Karlin — about 52% girls and 48% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1999, when 27 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Karlin stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Karlin 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 | — | — | 7 | #10,187 |
| 2024 | — | — | 11 | #7,511 |
| 2023 | 5 | #16,348 | 6 | #11,534 |
| 2022 | — | — | 5 | #13,312 |
| 2021 | — | — | 5 | #13,101 |
| 2020 | — | — | 10 | #7,800 |
| 2019 | — | — | 16 | #5,686 |
| 2018 | 6 | #14,705 | 11 | #7,371 |
| 2017 | 8 | #12,195 | 14 | #6,189 |
| 2016 | 12 | #9,144 | 9 | #8,487 |
| 2015 | 6 | #15,431 | 8 | #9,159 |
| 2014 | — | — | 6 | #11,429 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,577 | 9 | #8,455 |
| 2012 | 10 | #10,829 | 9 | #8,515 |
| 2011 | 5 | #18,161 | 11 | #7,246 |
| 2010 | — | — | 6 | #11,481 |
| 2009 | 6 | #16,207 | 8 | #9,441 |
| 2008 | 6 | #16,424 | — | — |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,229 | 10 | #7,888 |
| 2006 | 9 | #11,912 | 10 | #7,728 |
| 2005 | — | — | 9 | #7,993 |
| 2004 | 6 | #15,072 | 5 | #12,304 |
| 2003 | 10 | #10,024 | 8 | #8,241 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12,875 | 6 | #10,053 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,722 | 5 | #11,481 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10,299 | 7 | #8,675 |
| 1995 | 10 | #8,388 | 6 | #8,340 |
| 1990 | 7 | #10,739 | 9 | #5,599 |
| 1985 | 10 | #6,679 | 5 | #7,073 |
| 1980 | 5 | #11,118 | 9 | #4,320 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | 11 | #4,888 | — | — |
| 1965 | 5 | #6,967 | — | — |
| 1960 | 9 | #4,604 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | 5 | #4,896 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Karlin in 2025?
Karlin 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 Karlin?
886 babies have been named Karlin in the United States since 1938, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Karlin most popular?
Karlin peaked in 1999, when 27 newborns received the name.
Is Karlin a boy or girl name?
Karlin is used for both: about 52% of babies named Karlin have been girls and 48% boys.
Is the name Karlin rising or falling?
Karlin is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.