Total births
1,862
Unisex name · since 1888
Carlisle
1,862 babies named Carlisle in U.S. Social Security records since 1888, with the highest year being 2012. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3277
- among boys today
- 1,862
- born since 1888
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Carlisle currently ranks #3277 among unisex names in America, with 1,862 babies recorded since 1888.
Carlisle has 1,862 recorded births among boys since 1888, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #3277 as of the latest data, more common than 77% of boys, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 2025.
- #3277 among boys today
- 1,862 born since 1888
- 2010s peak decade
- 77% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Carlisle is currently the #3277 unisex name in America, more common than 77% of boys - 1,862 born since 1888, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3277
- among boys today
- 1,862
- born since 1888
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Carlisle vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3277
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 77% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Carlisle was born in this single decade.
2012
Single peak year
47 babies were named Carlisle in 2012 - its busiest year on record.
How Carlisle compares
1,862 Top 22% higher than 78% 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
Carlisle's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Carlisle | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,862 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 47 | 23 | 22,252 |
Carlisle's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Carlisle's full recorded timeline at 1962, 50% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 50% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1896, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2012 peak of 47 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Carlisle at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2012
Current rank
#3,277
Active since
1888
Carlisle popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–2025
- Peak year (2012)
- 47
- Annual births at peak, across 138 years of records
Carlisle popularity over time - girls
467 total births recorded since 1944 (Carlisle as girls' name)
Carlisle by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Carlisle's strongest decade.
365 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Carlisle births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 9
1880s
9 births
- 1890s 36
1890s
36 births
- 1900s 10
1900s
10 births
- 1910s
1910s
188 births
- 1920s
1920s
231 births
- 1930s
1930s
176 births
- 1940s
1940s
155 births
- 1950s 108
1950s
108 births
- 1960s 66
1960s
66 births
- 1970s 92
1970s
92 births
- 1980s 70
1980s
70 births
- 1990s 76
1990s
76 births
- 2000s 54
2000s
54 births
- 2010s
2010s
365 births
- 2020s
2020s
226 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 365 births (20% of all-time use).
How Carlisle 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 Carlisle's total volume
Carlisle vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Carlisle by state
Where Carlisle concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 156 | 8.4% |
| #2 | Texas | | 16 | 0.9% |
| #3 | New York | | 15 | 0.8% |
| #4 | California | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #7 | Tennessee | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.3% |
South Carolina share of Carlisle's total US births 8.4%
Even split
156 of 1,862 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Carlisle? ▼
1,862 babies have been named Carlisle since 1888. It currently ranks #3277 among boys. The peak year was 2012 with 47 births.
When was Carlisle most popular? ▼
Carlisle was most popular in the 2010s decade with 365 total births. The single peak year was 2012.
Where is Carlisle most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Carlisle are South Carolina (156 births), Texas (16 births), New York (15 births).
Is Carlisle a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Carlisle is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,862 births, and as a girl's name it has 467 births.
How long has the name Carlisle been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Carlisle since 1888 -- 138 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Carlisle? ▼
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 Carlisle's data
- Carlisle's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (365 total births) through the 2020s (226) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- South Carolina records the most Carlisles (156 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina 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 Carlisle
Nearby Names Like Carlisle
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Carlisle
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 Carlisle side by side: Carlisle vs Carl Carlisle vs Carlos Carlisle vs Carter
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Carlisle
Tracy #3276
61,501 births · Peak 1966
Jordon #3278
13,762 births · Peak 1991
Walton #3275
5,889 births · Peak 1922
Nevin #3279
6,372 births · Peak 2007
Marshal #3274
5,485 births · Peak 1999
Leopoldo #3280
5,975 births · Peak 1980
Madison #3273
7,869 births · Peak 1995
Ken #3281
33,013 births · Peak 1960
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1888–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Carlisle: #3277 Unisex Name - 1,862 Births, Peak 2012." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/carlisle. 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 Carlisle 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 July 2026.