Total births
2,626
Unisex name · since 1905
Carlin
Carlin has 2,626 recorded births since 1905 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1992 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6850
- among boys today
- 2,626
- born since 1905
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Carlin is the #6850 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 2,626 recorded since 1905.
Social Security Administration records show Carlin recorded 2,626 times among boys since 1905, holding rank #6850 nationally today, ahead of 52% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1905 to 2025.
- #6850 among boys today
- 2,626 born since 1905
- 1990s peak decade
- 52% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Carlin is currently the #6850 unisex name in America, more common than 52% of boys - 2,626 born since 1905, peaking in the 1990s.
- #6850
- among boys today
- 2,626
- born since 1905
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Carlin vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6850
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 52% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Carlin was born in this single decade.
1992
Single peak year
62 babies were named Carlin in 1992 - its busiest year on record.
How Carlin compares
2,626 Top 18% higher than 82% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Carlin's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Carlin | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,626 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 62 | 23 | 22,252 |
Carlin's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Carlin's SSA record in two at 1969 and the more recent half accounts for 71% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 29%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1905, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1992 peak of 62, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Carlin at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1992
Current rank
#6,850
Active since
1905
Carlin popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1905–2025
- Peak year (1992)
- 62
- Annual births at peak, across 121 years of records
Carlin popularity over time - girls
1,939 total births recorded since 1920 (Carlin as girls' name)
Carlin by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Carlin's strongest decade.
469 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Carlin births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 58
1910s
58 births
- 1920s 103
1920s
103 births
- 1930s 138
1930s
138 births
- 1940s 141
1940s
141 births
- 1950s 161
1950s
161 births
- 1960s 166
1960s
166 births
- 1970s
1970s
197 births
- 1980s
1980s
365 births
- 1990s
1990s
469 births
- 2000s
2000s
387 births
- 2010s
2010s
333 births
- 2020s 103
2020s
103 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 469 births (18% of all-time use).
How Carlin compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Carlin's total volume
Carlin vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Carlin by state
Where Carlin concentrates geographically, total births since 1905
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 70 | 2.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 35 | 1.3% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 23 | 0.9% |
| #4 | Florida | | 16 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 15 | 0.6% |
| #6 | New York | | 9 | 0.3% |
California share of Carlin's total US births 2.7%
Even split
70 of 2,626 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Carlin? ▼
Since 1905, Social Security records show 2,626 babies named Carlin. Today it holds rank #6850 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1992, with 62 births.
When was Carlin most popular? ▼
Carlin was most popular in the 1990s decade with 469 total births. The single peak year was 1992.
Where is Carlin most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Carlin are California (70 births), Texas (35 births), Pennsylvania (23 births).
Is Carlin a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Carlin is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,626 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,939 births.
How long has the name Carlin been used? ▼
Carlin has been recorded in Social Security data since 1905, spanning 121 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Carlin? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Carl, Carlos, Carter, Carson, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Carlin's data
- Carlin's decade-level peak was the 1990s (469 total births); usage has since declined to 103 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Carlins (70 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Carlin
Nearby Names Like Carlin
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Carlin
Carl Boy
#1031 504,827 births
Carlos Boy
#135 307,036 births
Carter Boy
#46 206,833 births
Carson Boy
#124 132,774 births
Carlton Boy
#2791 48,890 births
Compare Carlin side by side: Carlin vs Carl Carlin vs Carlos Carlin vs Carter
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Carlin
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1905–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Carlin: #6850 Unisex Name - 2,626 Births, Peak 1992." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/carlin. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Carlin draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.