Caroline?

[Viatrix]

What do you think - is it a classic, or too old-fashioned?
Do you think it's usable on a child today?

How about nicknames, any suggestions other than Carrie?

Thanks!

I love the name Carrie. My daughter's Carina, Carrie for short.

I am surprised only 28 Carolines were born in 2012, I would have thought it would be more popular than that especially since older names are coming back. I think it's in the US top 100 as well, I wonder why it's more popular there than here.

Classic. Absolutely love it :)

Weird mixture of Sloane archetype (in the Handbook) and homage to Status Quo.

Caro is the nn I like best. Cazza is the one I've heard most in use recently.

I'm a Caroline and apart from a few friends who call me 'Caz', my name has never been shortened.

I know a Caroline shortened to Line or Liney.

Love it. Carrie or Callie would be nice nns too.

Re 'old' names, I don't think it's old enough to make a comeback yet. It's a name popular in mid-century like Susan, Deborah etc, but with a dash of Euro-royalty about it, as someone said earlier.

You're right about Caroline's popularity in the the US, Viatrix. It's currently at 68, and has been in the top 100 since 1994. It's actually never left the US top 1000 since name statistics first started being recorded, in 1880. So - in the US, anyway - it's certainly not dated but more in the "classics" category. It seems the most popular in the South and the East Coast. A real winner.

'In my mind I've gone to Carolina'

'Caroline I see you'

both by James Taylor. Listen and imagine them as lullabies.....

I now want a baby called Caroline.

I like it. It reminds me of Caroline of Brunswick.

Quite like Caroline, if I had to shorten it I'd probably use Cari, but actually I prefer the long form.

As a Caroline, its a lovely name! Your dd may grow to hate Neil Diamond with a burning passion however (I was definitely named for the Status Quo song!) As for your neighbour, Carolyn and Caroline are separate names entirely and I hate being called Carolyn. I tried with shorter versions when I was younger but its the kind of name that doesn't shorten well in my experience but I think that is to its benefit! Yay for more Carolines in the world!

Love it.

Quelleroseil - I just checked back into the thread. Thanks for your thoughts on Carolyn / Caroline. I agree they are different names. To add to the dilemma, her DH has the same (albeit shortened) name as one of my boys, so it would be doubly weird . However, we probably aren't going to be their neighbours forever, so I know I shouldn't let it affect the decision too much!

Carolina is so pretty :)

Oh and as for nicknames, I have a Callie (not short for Caroline/Carolina) and everyone says how pretty it is :)

My sister is a Caroline, always been called nn Carly. Love it.