Caroline

Caroline is a French and Latin feminine form of Carolus, the Latinized version of the Germanic name Karl, which derives from a root meaning man or free man. The name gained wide use across Europe largely through royal associations, most notably Caroline of Ansbach, queen consort of Great Britain in the eighteenth century, and has remained popular in English-speaking and Scandinavian countries ever since. Related forms include Carolina, Carolyn, Karoline, and the masculine source name Charles.