Given name · also Germanic
Karlee
“a small, strong woman”
Karlee is a variant of Karla. In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Karlee is a variant of Karla. In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Karlee comes from Germanic, and ultimately from Germanic languages.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1956. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karlee through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 13,647
- 0 boys · 13,647 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 511 babies
- 2025
- 103
- #1,898 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −47%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 103 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,898 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 46.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 511 in 2008. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,216 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karlee’s family of names
Karlee has a related form in Karla. In English usage, Karlee has a related form in Carly.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Karlee, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karley
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Karleigh
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Kinley
Kinley is a feminine given name from Scottish Gaelic.
1% boys · 99% girls
Kali
“the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” · “one who provides comfort”
3% boys · 97% girls
Anya
“a woman graced with God's favor”
>99% girls
Joslyn
“from the tribe of Gauts” · “one who is cheerful, happy”
>99% girls
Yoselin
“a Geat, a Goth”
>99% girls
Kensley
Kensley is a feminine given name from Old English.
3% boys · 97% girls