Carley
Carley is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free person.
Origin and history
Carley is a feminine given name, largely considered a modern English spelling variant of Carly, which acts as a diminutive of Caroline or Charlotte. It traces back to the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free person'. It gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century and remains a familiar, modern choice.
Popularity in the United States
16,918 babies in the United States have been named Carley since 1880. It ranks #1171 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1606.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8.9 %)
- CA (7.5 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
- MI (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 129 |
| 1930-1940 | 112 |
| 1940-1950 | 78 |
| 1950-1960 | 60 |
| 1960-1970 | 38 |
| 1970-1980 | 443 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,776 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,912 |
| 2000-2010 | 5,585 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,290 |
| 2020-2029 | 495 |
Famous people named Carley
- Carley Stenson: Actress, Singer
- Carley Shimkus: Journalist, Television Presenter
- Carley Fortune: Author, Journalist
Fun facts
- Carley is an alternative spelling of Carly, influenced by names ending in the popular '-ley' suffix like Ashley and Hailey.
- The name experienced its peak usage in the U.S. during the late 1990s and early 2000s.