Carla vs Caroline
Carla and Carolinecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1980, Carla was ranked #81 and Caroline #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Carla was ranked #269 and Caroline #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Carla was ranked #347 and Caroline #306 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Carla was ranked #325 and Caroline #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Carla was ranked #638 and Caroline #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Carla and Caroline over time
Carla and Caroline appear together in 4 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Caroline reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Carla in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carla and Caroline changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #325 and #381.
- Longest-running competitions
Carla and Caroline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 42 years, from 1967 to 2023, ending at #347 and #306.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carla #186 in 1997, Caroline #182 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Carla held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Caroline in 41.
Highest recorded here: Carla #117 in 2000, Caroline #3 in 1979.
The order changed in 2023: Carla moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #458 and #458; by 2023 that had become #404 and #625.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carla #325, Caroline #381.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1967–2023
Carla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Caroline in 42.
Highest recorded here: Carla #336 in 2015, Caroline #15 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carla #347, Caroline #306.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carla held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Caroline in 2.
Highest recorded here: Carla #186 in 1997, Caroline #182 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Carla moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #768 and #719; by 2017 that had become #604 and #1063.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carla #638, Caroline #1406.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2015
Carla held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Caroline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Carla #79 in 1997, Caroline #112 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Carla #269, Caroline #358.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Carla | Caroline |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carla has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Caroline.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Carla
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #274 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1974–1980
Highest recorded position: #74 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1974–1980).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #392 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls