Carla
A girls’ name of Old German origin, meaning free woman or feminine of Karl.
How Carla has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #875 |
| 2016 | #869 |
| 2017 | #947 |
| 2022 | #923 |
| 2023 | #963 |
Carla by the numbers
In 2025, 38 babies in England and Wales were named Carla. In the US, 274 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 5,818 babies in 1962, so it is a 1960s name that has since fallen a long way.
Names that come from Carla
Forms of Carla in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Karliefree man; a form of Carla or Karl276 in the US (2017)
- Carleefree woman; a form of Carla or Carly259 in the US (2017)
- Carleighman; a modern spelling of Carley or Carla177 in the US (2017)
- Karlyfree man; a modern respelling of Carla or Carly149 in the US (2017)
- Karlifree man; a form of Carla or Karl135 in the US (2017)
- Karleyfree man; a modern respelling of Carla or Carly124 in the US (2017)
- Karelyfree man; a modern respelling of Carla or Carly77 in the US (2017)
- Karleenfree person; a form of Caroline or Carla10 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Carla. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Carlya free person; a form of Carla or Carl687 in the US (2017)
- Caradear or beloved85 in England and Wales (2025)
- Callabeautiful; from the calla lily plant175 in the US (2017)
- Carlifree man; a spelling variant of Carla or Carlo122 in the US (2017)
- Caelafair; a form of Caoimhe or Kayla9 in the US (2017)
- Calacastle or fortification8 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Carla
Names that are said the same way as Carla, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Karlafree woman; a form of Carla552 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean freedom
Like Carla, each of these has freedom in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Charlottefree woman; feminine form of Charles12,900 in the US (2017)
- Carolinefree woman; feminine form of Charles4,270 in the US (2017)
- Charliefree man1,679 in England and Wales (2025)
- Lottiefree woman; from Charlotte1,222 in England and Wales (2025)
- Charleefree man; a feminine spelling of charles1,176 in the US (2017)
- Frankiefree man; a form of Frank887 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Carla
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