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

Carly is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 160 recorded births.

When was Carly most popular?

Carly reached its peak popularity in 1995 with 2,585 births that year. It is currently ranked #873 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Carly?

Carly is currently ranked #873 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 66,214 babies since 1951.

Carly

A Old High German name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysOld High GermanDeclining Also a pet name

#873▼ 92in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from the Germanic languages.

Carly is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old High German origin, a feminine diminutive of Carl or Charles, from the Germanic karl, meaning 'free man.'

Carly has a bright, approachable energy — shorter and snappier than Caroline or Charlotte, with an informal warmth that feels effortlessly American. Singer-songwriter Carly Simon, whose 1970s hits like "You're So Vain" defined an era, is the name's most iconic bearer. Carly Rae Jepsen carried it into the next generation with "Call Me Maybe." The name peaked in U.S. popularity in the 1980s and 1990s and remains in steady, cheerful use today.

Compare Carly with another name

Popularity Over Time

Carly was #177 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #873, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Carly
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,951	#743	▼
2010s	9,299	#373	▼
2000s	16,688	#204	▼
1990s	22,790	#141	▲
1980s	12,475	#220	▲
1970s	2,980	#1358	▲
1960s	7	#6037	▼
1950s	24	#5175	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(59 years, 1951–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Carly
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	308	#873	-52 (-14.4%)
2023	360	#781	-5 (-1.4%)
2022	365	#778	-82 (-18.3%)
2021	447	#663	-24 (-5.1%)
2020	471	#621	-65 (-12.1%)
2019	536	#567	-118 (-18.0%)
2018	654	#480	-41 (-5.9%)
2017	695	#455	-112 (-13.9%)
2016	807	#413	-39 (-4.6%)
2015	846	#389	-70 (-7.6%)
2014	916	#357	-103 (-10.1%)
2013	1,019	#322	-91 (-8.2%)
2012	1,110	#285	-167 (-13.1%)
2011	1,277	#248	-162 (-11.3%)
2010	1,439	#217	-69 (-4.6%)
2009	1,508	#215	-177 (-10.5%)
2008	1,685	#197	+362 (27.4%)
2007	1,323	#261	-28 (-2.1%)
2006	1,351	#252	-398 (-22.8%)
2005	1,749	#199	-177 (-9.2%)

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

Carly as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Carly has also been given to 160 boys in the U.S. since 1973.

Unranked

Current rank

160

Total births

1986

Peak year

Compare Carly as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Carly be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Carly is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #873. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Carly has two lives

Carly, the baby name

#873girls

66,214 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1951–2024) · Methodology