Karla
Karla is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Free person or strong woman.
Origin and history
Karla is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, serving as a variation of Carla or the feminine form of Karl. It ultimately derives from an ancient Germanic word meaning 'free person' or 'woman'. In the United States, it enjoyed strong popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century and remains a recognizable classical choice today.
Popularity in the United States
91,586 babies in the United States have been named Karla since 1880. It ranks #399 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #700.
States where it is most popular
- CA (20 %)
- TX (13.8 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- NY (4.1 %)
- OH (3.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 26 |
| 1920-1930 | 65 |
| 1930-1940 | 536 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,102 |
| 1950-1960 | 11,462 |
| 1960-1970 | 17,716 |
| 1970-1980 | 11,367 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,360 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,873 |
| 2000-2010 | 16,145 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,555 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,379 |
Famous people named Karla
- Karla Alvarez: Actress
- Karla Souza: Actress
- Karla Homolka: Public figure
Nicknames
Karlie, Karls
Fun facts
- Karla is the feminine form of Karl, which stems from the Proto-Germanic word *karilaz meaning 'free man'.
- Spelled with a 'K', Karla is widely popular in German, Scandinavian, and Slavic regions as well as English and Spanish-speaking communities.