Carly
- Meaning
- Free person, through Carl
Saved in this browser. No account needed.
What does Carly mean?
Carly means “Free person, through Carl”.
Carly is a feminine form associated with Carl, part of the Charles name family. The older Germanic root refers to a man or free person. The name’s history is therefore different from a modern word combination, even though Carly has a familiar, informal two-syllable sound in English.
Singer-songwriter Carly Simon and singer Carly Rae Jepsen are recognizable namesakes. Carli, Carley, and Karly provide related spelling choices, while Carl offers a direct family name to honor. Carly can stand as the full given name without needing Caroline or another longer form. Parents may prefer to compare the spellings visually, since several will sound alike when spoken.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Nicknames for Carly
Short forms for everyday use.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Carly?
United States · 2025Explore how often Carly is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US girls rank
- #1,009 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Girls named Carly
- 248 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 19.5% Fewer than 2024
Carly over time
United States · Girls
Recorded births
Hover or tap the chart, or move the slider. You can also use the keyboard arrow keys.
Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights girls, the most common recorded usage in 2025.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | #1,009 | 248 |
| 2024 | Girls | #875 | 308 |
| 2023 | Girls | #780 | 361 |
| 2022 | Girls | #778 | 366 |
| 2021 | Girls | #664 | 447 |
| 2020 | Girls | #621 | 471 |
| 2019 | Girls | #567 | 536 |
| 2018 | Girls | #478 | 655 |
| 2017 | Girls | #456 | 695 |
| 2016 | Girls | #413 | 807 |
| 2015 | Girls | #389 | 846 |
| 2014 | Girls | #357 | 916 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Carly
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Evelyn
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Desired; or water, island
Shares an origin with Carly.
Eliana
Mostly girls- Meaning
- My God has answered; sun
Shares an origin with Carly.
Ava
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Life; bird; water, island
Shares an origin with Carly.
Eleanor
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Uncertain; from Aliénor
Shares an origin with Carly.
Violet
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Purple
Shares an origin with Carly.
Harper
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Harp player
Shares an origin with Carly.
Found a few you like?
Save them, then compare up to four names in your shortlist.