Carol vs Evelyn
Carol and Evelyncompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Evelyn #21 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Carol was ranked #663 and Evelyn #184 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Carol was ranked #314 and Evelyn #241 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Carol and Evelyn over time
Carol and Evelyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Evelyn moved ahead of Carol in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #123 and #219 the year before became #229 and #197.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Evelyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #184.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2010
Carol held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Evelyn in 11.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Evelyn #78 in 1965.
The order changed in 1998: Evelyn moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #123 and #219; by 1998 that had become #229 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Carol #663, Evelyn #184.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Evelyn in 24.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Evelyn #19 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Evelyn #21.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Carol
Pairs where Carol shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2010 they were #5 and #663.
Sarah · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2010 they were #13 and #663.
Anna · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carol vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #36 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2010 they were #663 and #35.
Carol · Julia · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellen vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2010 they were #47 and #663.
Ellen · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Evelyn
Pairs where Evelyn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Evelyn vs Audrey
In 1964 they stood at #83 and #85 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #94 and #885.
Evelyn · Audrey · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Evelyn vs Katherine
In 1964 they stood at #83 and #77 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #94 and #608.
Evelyn · Katherine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Evelyn
Nora and Evelyn changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #76 and #94.
Nora · Evelyn · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Carol | Evelyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From an English surname derived from the given name Aveline. Originally more common for boys in the 17th century, now used almost entirely as a feminine name. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2133 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #12 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Evelyn has a recorded origin (English (surname origin)); Carol does not have one recorded yet.
- Carol has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Evelyn.
- A meaning is recorded for Evelyn; Carol doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carol
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2133 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Evelyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #121 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2011–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls