Carly
How to say it: KAR-lee · /ˈkɑrli/
Feminine diminutive of Carl/Charles, from Germanic 'Karl' meaning 'free man' or 'man'. A breezy informal variant.
Carly was the 367th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 248 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 72% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #619 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #367 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 248 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,741 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −72% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #619 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Falling from a 1990s high, Carly has thinned year by year. It stays far below that mark with continued slipping forecast.
What goes with it
KAR lee sounds soft at the close with a crisp start. Kelsey pairs well in style.
Nicknames
- Car
- Carls
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Carly is about 1 in 156.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, German.
Famous people named Carly
- Carly Rae Jepsen (born 1985)Canadian singer
- Carly Fiorina (born 1954)American businesswoman and politician
- Carly Simon (born 1943)American musician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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