Carolina

Carolina is a Latinate feminine form of Carolus, the Latin rendering of the Germanic name Karl, which derives from an Old High German root meaning man or free man. The name gained wide use across Europe largely through the fame of Charlemagne, the powerful Frankish emperor whose name combined Carolus with magnus, meaning great. Carolina spread particularly through the Iberian Peninsula and Italy as an elegant feminine elaboration, and it was also applied to the American colonial territories named in honor of King Charles II of England. Closely related forms include Caroline, Karolina, and Carola.