Is Carla a boy's or girl's name?

Carla is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 425 recorded births.

When was Carla most popular?

Carla reached its peak popularity in 1962 with 5,821 births that year. It is currently ranked #1012 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Carla?

Carla is currently ranked #1012 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 150,163 babies since 1890.

Carla

An uncommon Germanic pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysGermanicRising Also a pet name

#1012▼ 45in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from the Germanic languages borrowed from Italian or German.

Carla is a girl's and boy's baby name of Germanic origin, borrowed from Italian or German as the feminine form of Carlo/Karl, from the Old High German karal meaning 'free man' — the same root as Charles.

Carla has a clean, international sound that travels well across cultures — popular in Italy, Spain, Latin America, and the U.S. alike. It was at its American peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Carla Bruni, the Italian-French model and former First Lady of France, brings it effortless elegance.

Compare Carla with another name

Popularity Over Time

Carla was #470 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1012, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Carla
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,275	#1010	▼
2010s	3,154	#870	▼
2000s	6,166	#494	▼
1990s	8,399	#335	▼
1980s	14,453	#195	▼
1970s	26,845	#119	▼
1960s	47,905	#84	▲
1950s	29,432	#135	▲
1940s	9,486	#239	▲
1930s	2,262	#443	▲
1920s	550	#1235	▲
1910s	171	#1776	▲
1900s	54	#1654	▲
1890s	11	#1331	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(125 years, 1890–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Carla
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	252	#1012	-15 (-5.6%)
2023	267	#967	-24 (-8.2%)
2022	291	#926	+71 (32.3%)
2021	220	#1120	-25 (-10.2%)
2020	245	#1023	-7 (-2.8%)
2019	252	#1021	-3 (-1.2%)
2018	255	#1018	-24 (-8.6%)
2017	279	#947	-44 (-13.6%)
2016	323	#870	+5 (1.6%)
2015	318	#875	-2 (-0.6%)
2014	320	#860	+20 (6.7%)
2013	300	#860	-71 (-19.1%)
2012	371	#750	+3 (0.8%)
2011	368	#750	0
2010	368	#753	-72 (-16.4%)
2009	440	#665	-91 (-17.1%)
2008	531	#580	-48 (-8.3%)
2007	579	#540	-31 (-5.1%)
2006	610	#499	+25 (4.3%)
2005	585	#509	-44 (-7.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Carla as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Carla has also been given to 425 boys in the U.S. since 1946.

Unranked

Current rank

425

Total births

1967

Peak year

Compare Carla as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Carla be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Carla is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1012. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Carla has two lives

Carla, the baby name

#1012girls

150,163 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1890–2024) · Methodology