← All names

Carin

Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Carin: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1982.

Of Scandinavian origin, Carin is a variant of Karen, itself a Danish short form of Katherine, which derives from the Greek *katharos* meaning “pure.” It gained particular visibility through Carin Göring, the first wife of Nazi leader Hermann Göring, though her name is more often linked to the tragic love story that inspired his estate Carinhall. In Scotland, the name follows the same etymological path as the more common Catherine and the place name Cairngorm (from Gaelic *cairn*, “heap of stones”)—a different root entirely, but a resonant Scottish association. Carin also appears as a surname in some cultures. While never charting high in Scottish births, it has a quiet, delicate feel that parents may prefer as a less common alternative to Karen or Cara.