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[Opinions] Help me warm up to Caroline
Caroline is a name I used to dislike. Quite a lot. I found her stuffy, stuck up, and just plain cold - even though she technically fits in my with my name aesthetic (classic but also romantic). Eventually I just forgot about her.Today, however, I was over on the polls and one had a list of names to choose what you like. And without even thinking about it... I checked Caroline!I didn't immediately uncheck her. Instead I looked over the list, thought for a bit, and went, "Huh... I guess I like Caroline now!"She's not putting me off like she used to, but I'm still a little unsure. Wdyt of Caroline? What would you pair her with?***Please rate my personal name lists:www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
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I really like the name personally. It means "little carol", like a short song. I don't think it sounds old, actually quite youthful unlike Carolyn, and I have it on my PNL. It reminds me of music and Christmas time, and I think it could be on equal standing with Madeline if it gains some popularity. It's my middle name, and I think it suits me well combined with my first name, Grace. My grandma's name was Carol, so that's why my parents chose it. Caroline Joy
Caroline Rose
Caroline Mae
Caroline Belle
Caroline Grace (lol)
Caroline Jade
Caroline Ruby
Caroline Marie
Caroline Pearl
Caroline Wren
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I'd never given Caroline much thought either; the only one I knew well wasn't particularly appealing, and then it was just 18th-century royalty. I was planning to name my daughter Lucy, a name I've always loved. But when she was born, somehow she didn't look like a Lucy at all. So I took my trusty Names book and worked my way down the alphabet, finding names I liked, and seeing if they suited her. The first one that did, was Caroline. So I used it, and it worked extremely well. Caroline clearly has hidden depths.There were so many Carol people in the 1950s that Caroline might have suffered a bit from guilt by association. But it's a long time ago and that should be all over, if it ever happened.
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I’ve also warmed up to Caroline recently, though not enough to throw it on my PNL. I do, however, have sister Carolina on the list.Caroline kind of ties in with Charlotte for me, nice, but kind of frilly in its own right, girly, and slightly boring. I do prefer Caroline to Charlotte though.

This message was edited 6/21/2022, 2:44 PM

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I’ve always liked the name Caroline. I love that it can have the nickname Carrie. I also love the “air” sound and the “long I” sound at the end. The “care” sound in the name makes it sound very sweet to me. It has a rich history where I am; I think of a girl from the 1840s in a dress (not floofy) and curly hair. However, I don’t think it’s “dated”. I know someone my age named Caroline. She’s goth, very athletic, and very book smart. All of my “stereotypes” aside, I still think it’s a cool name. Idk…it just sounds very warm to me.Oh…combos!
Caroline Hope
Caroline Elise
Caroline Annette
Caroline Jade
Caroline Lucinda
Caroline Brielle
Caroline Vivian
Caroline Marie
Caroline Susanna
Caroline Rose

This message was edited 6/21/2022, 11:28 AM

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I understand how you feel. I wasn’t always a fan of Caroline either. (I had a pretty nice message ahead but sadly my phone deleted it)I never really liked Caroline much until a friend of mine helped me like it. Caroline is a very pretty, and sunny name. I do like it now. Firstly, the song “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond does make me like it more. Second, it’s a classic name that’s never “stand-outish” or out of style because it’s always been used as a given name. It really just gives me good vibes. I imagine a Caroline to be a sweet, good-looking, and funny girl. She’s knows her worth and maybe she’s a bookworm too. Lastly, although the name just means “man”, the possible interpretation of “free man” is really nice. It’s nice enough and better than a lot of the names I see nowadays. Thumbs up to Caroline.Caroline Saoirse
Caroline Elizabeth
Caroline Amelia
Caroline Octavia
Caroline Zoë
Caroline Susanna
Caroline Ivy
Caroline Noemi
Caroline Joy
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QuoteLastly, although the name just means “man”, the possible interpretation of “free man” is really nice.
I've been tracing the etymology to mean "warrior" (the alternative definition given under Charles), which I prefer greatly. :-)Of the combos you posted, I think Caroline Zoë and Caroline Ivy are the freshest, whereas Caroline Octavia is the most cosmopolitan.
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I am a Caroline and I associate the name not so much with myself as much as the masses of women I know named Caroline from the southern US. Most of these women are, how do I say this nicely? They’re not my type. They have struck me as superficial, silly, shallow, and conservative on the whole, though I know there are variations of course. I think it’s kind of an “I want to fit in” type of name and I hate that. I can’t imagine why my hippie parents chose it for me.But when I think about the name itself, I realize that its sound is really open, happy, sunny even. It’s not aggressively pretty or gentle. When I try to disconnect myself from all the Lilly Pullitzer wearing cultural Christian sorority sister Carolines I’ve known, I think the name is actually really nice and bright.
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I'll admit, the stuck up and "distinctly frosty" image I'd previously had in my head was quite English (even though I'm from the Midwest). I had no idea the name also had a postbellum wannabe Southern Belle stereotype associated with it! (Or that the name was so popular, regionally speaking.) Really not the best image, and I'm sorry you had to deal so much with this type of person - they sound exhausting.I assume they're all KER-ə-lien? Which is how I'm pronouncing it (KER-ə-lin is Carolyn, imo).
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Yes, that’s how it is pronounced. I think it started as a legit southern Belle name but then everybody started to emulate the upper class and it for some reason became so incredibly popular in the south, especially compared with other regions.I am generalizing though. Some people like the name. For some it’s a family name. There are some great Carolines for sure!
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