Carla

Q: What is the origin of Carla?

Carla is of Germanic origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Carla?

According to the latest SSA data, Carla is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Carla a boy name?

Carla is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Free Woman"

Carla is a feminine form related to Carl and Charles, widely used in Europe and the Americas since the twentieth century.

Themes:femininegermanicclassic

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Carla

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Carla did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Carla Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Carla.

9 ideas

carl

Nickname

cary

Nickname

carlay

Nickname

cie

Nickname

arla

Nickname

rlay

Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Carla

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Carla, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

16 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Carla mean?

Carla means "Free Woman". Carla is a feminine form related to Carl and Charles, widely used in Europe and the Americas since the twentieth century

What is the origin of Carla?

Carla is of Germanic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Carla?

According to the latest SSA data, Carla is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Carla a boy name?

Carla is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Carla?

Popular nicknames for Carla include carl, cary, cy, co, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Carla?

There are many names similar to Carla in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGermanic, Latin

Syllables2

Length5 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withC

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Arnold Aubrey Adolph Adolfo Alphonse

Sisters

Alberta Alissa Alisa Aubrie Adela

Explore More Boy Names Like Carla

Carla has Germanic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Germanic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Carla appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Latin Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Carla pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Carla beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.