Unisex name · since 1896

Caryl

Since 1896, U.S. Social Security records show 6,347 babies named Caryl, peaking in 1947. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

6,347
total births
1896–1996
years on record
1940s
peak decade
23%
born in that decade

Caryl sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 6,347 recorded since 1896.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Caryl has been recorded 6,347 times among girls since 1896, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1896 to 1996.

  • 6,347 total births
  • 1896–1996 years on record
  • 1940s peak decade
  • 23% born in that decade

Data updated Jul 2026

The verdict

6,347 girls have been named Caryl since 1896, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 1996.

6,347
total births
1896–1996
years on record
1940s
peak decade
23%
born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade

23% of everyone ever named Caryl was born in this single decade.

1947
Single peak year

190 babies were named Caryl in 1947 - its busiest year on record.

Caryl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Caryl splits its recorded history at 1948: 45% of all births land in the more recent half, 55% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1896 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1947 peak of 190 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.

Caryl at a glance

Last recorded 1996

Total births

6,347

Since 1896

101 years of records

Peak year

1947

190 births that year

Strongest decade: 1940s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1996

Active since

1896

Recorded for 101 years

Last year on file: 1996

Caryl popularity over time - girls

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1896–1996

Last recorded 1996
Peak year (1947)
190
Annual births at peak, across 101 years of records
-50050100150200 189619151927193919511963197519871996 6

Caryl popularity over time - boys

344 total births recorded since 1898 (Caryl as boys' name)

Unisex variant - 344 births
05101520 189819171923193119371945195319871994 5

Caryl by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1940s was Caryl's strongest decade.

1,490 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.

Caryl births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1940s at 1,490 births (23% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of July 2026

How Caryl compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Caryl's total volume

Caryl vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Caryl vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 2%3%4%5%6%7%8% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Caryl
Caryl vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Caryl by state

Where Caryl concentrates geographically, total births since 1896

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Caryl
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 New York
911 14.4%
#2 Illinois
781 12.3%
#3 California
364 5.7%
#4 Ohio
307 4.8%
#5 Wisconsin
260 4.1%
#6 Pennsylvania
234 3.7%
#7 New Jersey
211 3.3%
#8 Michigan
155 2.4%
New York share of Caryl's total US births 14.4%
Even split

911 of 6,347 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 26 reporting states.

Caryl appears in 26 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Caryl? ▼
Caryl has been given to 6,347 babies in the U.S. since 1896, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1996. 190 babies were born in 1947, its single highest year.
When was Caryl most popular? ▼
Caryl was most popular in the 1940s decade with 1,490 total births. The single peak year was 1947.
Where is Caryl most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Caryl are New York (911 births), Illinois (781 births), California (364 births).
Is Caryl a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Caryl is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 6,347 births, and as a boy's name it has 344 births.
How long has the name Caryl been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Caryl since 1896 -- 101 years through the most recent 1996 data.
What names are similar to Caryl? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Carol, Carolyn, Carrie, Caroline, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Caryl's data

  • Caryl's decade-level peak was the 1940s (1,490 total births); usage has since declined to 29 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • New York records the most Caryls (911 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York 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 Caryl

Nearby Names Like Caryl

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Caryl

Carol Girl
#2639 816,928 births
Carolyn Girl
#1160 556,777 births
Carrie Girl
#3013 266,350 births
Caroline Girl
#92 250,410 births
Carla Girl
#1009 150,390 births

Compare Caryl side by side: Caryl vs Carol Caryl vs Carolyn Caryl vs Carrie

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Ireland #1866
6,347 births · Peak 2009
Juli #13635
6,351 births · Peak 1961
Maira #2758
6,341 births · Peak 1992
Katia #1858
6,339 births · Peak 1996
Kaela #5338
6,358 births · Peak 1996
Evelina #1028
6,365 births · Peak 2025
Emani #1315
6,329 births · Peak 2019
Maybelle #4388
6,366 births · Peak 1918

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, 1896–1996 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Caryl: Baby Name Since 1896 - 6,347 Births, Peak 1947." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/caryl. 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 Caryl 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.