Given name & surname
Carly
“a free woman”·“from the farmer's meadow”·“a free man”
In English use, Carly is an affectionate form of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carly is a variant of Carley. One English interpretation is “from the farmer's meadow.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Carly is an affectionate form of Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Carly is a variant of Carley. One English interpretation is “from the farmer's meadow.” In English use, Carly is a feminine form of Carl. In German use, Carl carries the interpretation “a free man.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Carly is a variant of Carley. An origin associated with Carley is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Carly is an affectionate form of Carla. In English usage, Carly is a feminine form of Carl.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1951. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 66,626
- 160 boys · 66,466 girls
- Most popular year
- 1995
- 2,585 babies
- 2025
- 248
- #1,009 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −45%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 248 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,009 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 45.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,585 in 1995. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (27). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 62,430 as a first name in 2020; 162 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carly’s family of names
In English usage, Carly is an affectionate form of Carla. In English usage, Carly is a feminine form of Carl. Carly has a related form in Carley.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Carlafull form · English
- Karleevariant · English
- Carleevariant · English
- Karlievariant · English
- Carleighvariant · English
- Karlyvariant · English
- Carlievariant · English
- Karlivariant · English
Show 13 moreShow fewer
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Carly
- Carly Rae JepsenCanadian singer (born 1985)
- Carly FiorinaAmerican businesswoman and politicianborn 1954
- Carly SimonAmerican musician (born 1943)
- Carly PattersonAmerican artistic gymnast and rock singer (born 1988)
- Carly ChaikinAmerican actressborn 1990
- Carly GullicksonAmerican female tennis playerborn 1986
- Carly PopeCanadian actressborn 1980
- Carly Schroederformer American actressborn 1990
- Carly Rose SonenclarAmerican singer and actorborn 1999
Characters named Carly: Carly Shay (main protagonist of television show iCarly).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Carly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arly
“from the meadow of the hare” · “an oath; a pledge”
23% boys · 77% girls
Hally
“from the hall near the meadow” · “from the hall”
>99% girls
Dalia
“dahlia” · “one who is gentle”
>99% girls
Coral
Coral is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “resembling the semiprecious sea growth; from the reef.”
>99% girls
Yasmine
“resembling the jasmine flower”
>99% girls
Marissa
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Marina
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Marisol
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls