Carly
Carly is a feminine form of Carl or Charles, derived from the Germanic word meaning 'free man' or 'free woman'. It emerged as an independent name in the English-speaking world during the 20th century.
Current Popularity
#1009 for girls
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce in English-speaking countries
- •Has a casual, down-to-earth quality that suits many personalities
- •Popular during the 1980s-1990s, giving it a contemporary but established feel
- •Works well in both professional and casual settings
Similar Names
Famous People
Carly Simon
Singer-songwriter
Carly Rae Jepsen
Pop singer
Carly Fiorina
Business executive and former HP CEO
Carly Chaikin
Actress
Statistics
66,466
Total births since 1880
1995
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.