Carole

The first name Carole is a French form of Carola, the female variant of Carolus, and has its origins in the Frankish name Carl or Karl.

What does the name Carole mean?

Carole is regarded as a French variation of Carola, which in turn derives from Carolus, originating from the Frankish name Carl or Karl. The meaning of the name can be interpreted as 'the free one', and it is occasionally associated with 'the beloved'. The origin of the name Carole can be traced back to Old High German, derived from the word components karal or karlaz, meaning 'the man' or 'the husband'. Other variants include Carolyna, Carolyne, Carolyn, and Carolene. The name Carl became particularly well-known through Charlemagne, whose name was translated into Latin as Carolus during this time, leading to its worldwide spread. In German-speaking regions, the name has only gained significant popularity since the 19th century.

Where does the name Carole come from?

The origin of Carole is Old High German and means 'the free one'.

How do you pronounce Carole?

The sound of Carole is calm and slightly elongated. It is usually pronounced as 'Ka-rol' [kaˈʁoːl], with the name starting with an open sound. The long 'o' in the middle gives a sense of spaciousness, while the ending of the name feels calm and closed. Overall, the name appears harmonious, soft, and clearly structured.

When is the name day of Carole?

The name days for Carole are January 6, January 28, November 4, and November 18.

Popularity

In Germany, Carole is a rather rare first name. In 2014, it ranked 4,003rd on the list of the most common girls' names. Its best ranking was achieved in 1970, reaching 139th place. Between 2010 and 2024, Carole was given as a first name in Germany fewer than 10 times, causing it to fall to 10,750th place. In the last ten years, no child has been named this way.

Nicknames & pet names

Calo / Cara / Cari / Caro / Carou / Curry

Famous people

• Carole Alston (American jazz singer & actress)
• Carole Ann Klonarides (artist from America)
• Carole Bayer Sager (American singer)
• Carole Boller (Australian artist)
• Carole Bouquet (French actress)
• Carole Chaski (American linguist)
• Carole Cole (American actress)
• Carole da Silva Costa (Polish footballer)
• Carole Farley (American opera singer)
• Carole FitzPatrick (American soprano)
• Carole Gist (model from America)
• Carole King (singer and songwriter)
• Carole Lafavor (American writer)
• Carole Landis (American actress, *1919 – 1948)
• Carole Laure (Canadian actress)
• Carole Lombard (American actress)
• Carole Marsh (writer from Georgia)
• Carole Matthews (British writer)
• Carole Merle (Alpine ski racer from France)
• Carole Montillet-Carles (former French ski racer)