Meaning:
Its source is car, a Gaelic name meaning "LOve."
Languages:
This girl's name is used in English.
Nickname For: Carol, Caroline and Carolyn
Alternative Spellings: Carey, Cari, Carie, Carrey, Carri, Carry and Cary
Popularity:
The name Carrie ranked 653rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 129th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name makes a strong showing in state popularity data of the 1970s, but makes few (if any) appearances on lists compiled after that period.
Narrative:
This name might have originated as a nickname of Carol and Caroline, but it is also likely bestowed upon girl babies with one or more of the sound-alike surnames in mind.
There are various theories on the origins of those surnames, including the Gaelic derivation given here. Others include the Welsh phrase caer rhiw, meaning ''hill fort,'' another Gaelic source, ciar, meaning ''dark-complected,'' and the Latin carriarus, a term which evolved into an occupational surname for those who moved goods from place to place.
