Carla
Carla is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free woman or strong woman.
Origin and history
Carla is the feminine form of Carl or Charles, tracing back to the Germanic name Karl meaning 'free man'. It gained significant popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century as a classic, international choice. While less common today, it remains widely recognized across many cultures.
Popularity in the United States
150,390 babies in the United States have been named Carla since 1880. It ranks #264 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #958.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.8 %)
- TX (8.6 %)
- OH (5.7 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- NY (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 11 |
| 1900-1910 | 54 |
| 1910-1920 | 171 |
| 1920-1930 | 550 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,262 |
| 1940-1950 | 9,486 |
| 1950-1960 | 29,432 |
| 1960-1970 | 47,905 |
| 1970-1980 | 26,841 |
| 1980-1990 | 14,455 |
| 1990-2000 | 8,400 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,167 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,155 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,501 |
Famous people named Carla
- Carla Gugino: Actress
- Carla Bruni: Singer, Model
- Carla Hall: Chef, TV Host
Nicknames
Carlita, Carly
Fun facts
- Carla developed as a feminine form of Carl and Charles, originating from the Old High German word 'karl'.
- Carla reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.