Given name & surname
Karla
“a small, strong woman”·“a free woman”·“a free man”
In Danish use, Karla has a related form in Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Karla is a feminine form of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Original GermanCarla
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.” In Danish use, Karla has a related form in Carla. In Latin use, Carla carries the interpretation “a free woman.” Karla is a feminine form of Karl. One German interpretation is “a free man.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
Karla is used as a feminine counterpart of Karl.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karla through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 91,895
- 309 boys · 91,586 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 2,066 babies
- 2025
- 340
- #803 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 340 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 803 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,060 in 1964. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (56). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 113,141 as a first name in 2020; 172 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.
Karla’s family of names
In Czech usage, Karla has a diminutive in Karlička. Karla is a feminine form of Karl. In Danish usage, Karla has a related form in Carla.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Karla has relatives in 7 languages. Lines run from its German roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Karla
- Camila CabelloCuban-Mexican-American singerborn 1997
- Karla SouzaMexican actress (born 1985)
- Karla Sofía GascónSpanish actressborn 1972
- Karla AvelarLGBTI Activistborn 1978
- Karla ÁlvarezMexican actress (1972-2013)
- Karla LaVeyDaughter of Anton LaVeyborn 1952
- Karla CromeBritish actressborn 1988
- Karla HenryFilipino beauty pageant contestantborn 1986
- Karla ŠlechtováCzech politician and economistborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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