Caroline or Carolyn?

[SparklyBlueGiraffe]

DH and I are having a disagreement over this. He thinks Caroline is more typical and simple yet beautiful, and she would be unlikely to have any spelling issues in the future. But I think Carolyn has a certain elegance and uniqueness about it, but not so unique that it's questionable.

I prefer Caroline. Carolyn is very 60s and a bit naff.

I love Caroline, to me it's classy and pretty. Carolyn is more old-lady-ish.

I'm a Caroline. I've hated it since my teens & use a diminutive. Which I don't love, either.

Having said that, I've lived overseas now for quite some time & get Caro-LEEN, which is quite funky when said in the right accent.

Carolyn - tbh, that just feels like a naff mispelling.

DH is right, sorry. Caroline has a very rich history - it’s royal and elegant and a very classic name that suits all ages. Carolyn looks like an 40’s/50’s invention from people who like the softer “lynn” pronunciation (Lynn being a very popular name itself in that time period).

Carolyn belongs with middle aged or elderly Marilyn and Kathryn and Jayne rather than Queen (or Austen novel characters) Caroline, Mary, Catherine or Jane.

Caroline is timeless, with more history and not as trendy.
Carolyn has a very predictable pronunciation and was trendy about 1960s.

I know three Carolines and four Carolyns..

Two Carolines pronounce their name more like Caro-lin/Caro-leen/Caro-lyn - they hate the pretentious line version.
Two Carolines pronounce their name Caro-Line (rhymes with lime.)
All four Carolyns are pronounced as Caro-lin.

One Caroline and one Carolyn use Cally.
Two Carolines and one Carolyn use Caz/Cazi
One Carolyn is known as Cass
One Carolyn is known as Caro.

I also know at least five Carols and Caroles. They could be short for Caroline or Carolyn but I don't know if that is the case.

'they hate the pretentious line version' (of saying Caroline). It's not pretentious! It's the normal pronunciation in English speaking countries.

Lovely, classic name.

Carolyn is OK but not really classic, and yes as a pp said, dated to approximately the 1960s.

Out of those 2, I prefer Caroline but I also, as a 3rd option, like Coraline.

Caroline.

Caroline

Caroline is classic and elegant.

Caroline

Carolyn is just not in the same class and hopefully will never come back. I feel Caroline is well overdue for a resurgence

Caroline is a beautiful and timeless name without any class connotations.

Carolyn is naff. I’d assume parents aspiring to be posher and more interesting than they really are.

@user1492757084 , they hate the pretentious line version.
It's not pretentious, it's the standard UK pronunciation.

Sorry, forgot to press Clear quote.

I'm also a Caroline 48 and don't mind it, I don't like it being shortened though at all!
My kids have more unusual names I think because mine was so common at the time!