Caroline vs. Carolyn

DawnJM25 · July 2011

Carolyn is our girl name. I want it to be pronounced that way with the "lynn" sound at the end, NOT like the song "Sweet Caroline." However, to me Caroline looks like a prettier way to spell the name. I don't want my child to have to grow up correcting people on how to pronounce it. Do you think this would be a problem? How would you spell it if you were me? Thoughts?

cmhicklin · July 2011

If I looked at Caroline, I would never pronounce it like I would pronounce Carolyn. So yes, you will probably have to pronounce it all the time.

coadyk01 · July 2011

I love Caroline, but would pronounce it the way of the song. Carolyn is NMS, but that would be the better spelling for the pronunciation you want.

mljohnson · July 2011

cmhicklin:
If I looked at Caroline, I would never pronounce it like I would pronounce Carolyn. So yes, you will probably have to pronounce it all the time.

this

RedCardinal · July 2011

Caroline is pronounced several ways.

CAROLINE

Gender: Feminine

Usage: French, English, German, Scandinavian, Dutch

Pronounced: ka-ro-LEEN (French), KER-?-lien (English), KER-?-lin (English), KAR-?-lien (English), KAR-?-lin (English

I know several Madeline's spelled this way and they all pronounce it Mad-uh-lyn.

adriennen27 · July 2011

Ditto pp's. Unless you are ok with correcting all the time, I would go with Carolyn, or maybe Carolin.

meplusone · July 2011

Two different names. If you want line go with Caroline and if you want lynn go with Carolyn.

I like them both but think Caroline is way more popular so Carolyn is a nice change.

HappyMrsK · July 2011

Carolyn. I would never pronounce Caroline like Carolyn.

DawnJM25 · July 2011

Thanks for your help everyone! I definitely have my answer. Didn't know so many people thought they were 2 different names- I've heard Caroline pronounced like Carolyn before. Thanks!!

cmw&tdm · July 2011

To me they are completely different names. At least among people that I have met, Caroline has always been pronounced with the -line ending. Carolyn always with the -lynn pronunciation.

I think it's different with Madeline. I have never met a Madeline who pronounces the -line in the ending, everyone I know pronounces it as -lynn.

Mrkyrain · July 2011

meplusone:
Two different names. If you want line go with Caroline and if you want lynn go with Carolyn.
I like them both but think Caroline is way more popular so Carolyn is a nice change.

This. To me, they are two different names.

MinnieM · July 2011

Caroline is pronounced "line" and Carolynn is pronounced "lynn".

oliversbear · July 2011

My boss' youngest girl is Caroline, and they pronounce it Carolyn. I had to think every time I called her by name, and 95% of the time, I got it wrong. If you want the -lynn sound, my vote is to spell it Carolyn. You may still get some people who will call her Caroline, but fewer than would with the -line spelling.

hutch0830 · July 2011

coadyk01:
I love Caroline, but would pronounce it the way of the song. Carolyn is NMS, but that would be the better spelling for the pronunciation you want.

This.

dandywarhol · July 2011

As one named Caroline I can give it to you with authority: They are two different names.

Caroline ends in -line. Carolyn ends in -lynn.

My entire life I have had to correct people who want to pronounce it incorrectly. I agree with the pp who said it is like naming the kid Richard but calling it Ricardo.

Please for the sake of all of us named Caroline, name the kid Carolyn if you want it to be called Carolyn.

PunkyBooster · July 2011

Brutal honesty?

Caroline is a prettier name. That is why it looks prettier written down.

Just+Sayin · July 2011

coadyk01:
I love Caroline, but would pronounce it the way of the song. Carolyn is NMS, but that would be the better spelling for the pronunciation you want.

Ditto this. Caroline is on my baby name list if we ever have another!

Mike&Care · July 2011

I'm a Carolyn and people often misspell it Caroline, so I don't think it's awful to spell it that way, but I would be prepared for a lot of correcting.

Ritzy19 · July 2011

I understand where you're coming from. I like the pronunciation of Carolyn better than Caroline myself, but don't visually like the spelling of it either. Like others have said though, I think if you want people to pronounce it correctly you're going to have to spell it Carolyn or constantly be correcting people.

aubreysmom1 · July 2011

Most people pronounce the two how they should be pronounced... I don't think you will have any problems. LOVE Carolyn by the way.

caro123caro · July 2011

I'd have to say Carolyn

That's my name

the only thing is that I often get called Caroline anyhow...

caro123caro · July 2011

you could also spell it: Carolynn, I've seen that as well

starlight8323 · July 2011

baconface:
Spelling it Caroline and pronouncing it Carolyn would be like naming your kid Richard but pronouncing it Ricardo.

CARE-o-lyn is also a traditional pronunciation for Caroline.

As an example, you may remember Caroline Appleby from "I Love Lucy" (speaking of "Ricardo". Haha.)

Carolyn is a variant, created by parents who loved the name Caroline, and wanted people to use the CARE-o-lyn pronunciation. This is exactly what happened with Madeline ->Madelyn as well.

With that being said, most people these days utilize the Carolyn spelling if they want this pronunciation. So most people will assume that if you wanted it pronounced CARE-o-lyn, you would have chosen the Carolyn spelling. So they will assume you want it pronounced care-o-LINE. But once they've been corrected once, it probably won't happen again.

It's totally up to you which is more important- the prettier spelling, or not having to correct people on pronunciation.

PeachyGal1 · July 2011

If you want it to be pronounced with the "lynn" sound, it should be spelled Carolyn. Caroline (like the song) is a super popular name right now (check out the May, June and July baby boards) and is pronounced with the long I sound like the word "line".

Love the name Carolyn!! I do not think "Caroline" look prettier.

Want a personalized experience?

Caroline vs. Carolyn

Re: Caroline vs. Carolyn

Choose Another Board

Search Boards