Carlyn is a feminine English given name and also a surname. As a given name, it is a contracted variant of Caroline, the French feminine form of the Latin Carolus, itself a Latinized form of the Germanic name Karl. The root name Charles derives from a Germanic word meaning “man” (Proto-Germanic *karlaz), though an alternative theory connects it to the element *harjaz meaning “army.” Carlyn sits within a large family of English variants and diminutives of Caroline and Carolyn, including Cami, Cari, Callie, and others. While less common than Carolyn or Karolyn, Carlyn shares the same melodic feel as many -lyn suffixed names that were popular in the 20th century. As a surname, Carlyn has dual origins. According to references in Wikipedia data, it can derive from the Irish surnames O'Carlain and O'Caireallain. In this context, the name is borne by a few noted individuals, though it remains relatively rare. Notable persons named Carlyn include Carlyn Chisholm, Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, a British politician; Carlyn Kruger, a Canadian alpine skier who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics; and Carlyn Ocampo, a former member of the Filipino pop group Pop Girls and current member of the Korean girl group Z-Girls. Distinctive Features Meaning: “man” or “free man” (via Charles); “army” (alternate theory) Origin: Germanic > Latin > French > English Type: first name (also surname) Usage Regions: English-speaking countries Style: feminine variant of Caroline; moderately rare as a given name