Given name · also Germanic
Karleigh
“a small, strong woman”
Karleigh is a variant of Karla. In German use, Karla carries the interpretation “a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Karleigh 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
Karleigh 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 1983. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karleigh through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,032
- 0 boys · 5,032 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 237 babies
- 2025
- 45
- #3,425 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −58%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 45 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,425 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 57.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 237 in 2016. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,844 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.
Karleigh’s family of names
Karleigh has a related form in Karla. In English usage, Karleigh has a related form in Carly.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Karleigh, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Karley
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Karlie
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Katla
“kettle; helmet”
>99% girls
Kemi
“easily accessible or passable”
>99% girls
Karly
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Atla
“fierce”
>99% girls
Balsam
Balsam is a surname from German.
>99% girls
Lumi
“snow”
5% boys · 95% girls