Karla

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAR-lah /ˈkɑɹ.lə/High

Meaning: Free woman or free person; a feminine form of Karl or Carlos, from Old High German Karl meaning free man or full-grown manHigh

In 30 seconds: Karla is a feminine form of Karl meaning free woman, a crisp Germanic two-syllable name popular across Scandinavia, Germany, and Latin America, offering the same noble Charlemagne heritage in a sleek feminine form.

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Origin HighOld High German, Scandinavian

MeaningFree woman or free person; a feminine form of Karl or Carlos, from Old High German Karl meaning free man or full-grown man

U.S. rank (2025)#803 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births340 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1964

Total births (all-time)≈ 91,581

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Karla is a feminine form of Karl (German) or Carlos (Spanish/Portuguese), from Old High German karl meaning free man or full-grown man. The same root underlies the name Charlemagne (Carolus Magnus), Charles, and Carolina. The -a ending feminizes the masculine Karl.

Karla is widely used across Germany, Scandinavia, and Latin America as a feminine variant of Karl/Carlos. In the United States it appears particularly in Hispanic communities as the feminine of Carlos. In Sweden and Norway, Karla is a top-100 girls name. It has maintained steady use in the U.S. since the mid-20th century.

Did you know? The Germanic root Karl, from which Karla derives, became the basis for the word churl (a free commoner), the Old Norse karl (man), and ultimately gave rise to the English words churlish and even possibly carol (a festive song associated with Charlemagne's court music).

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Karla — Old High German etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarlaCarlitaCarla

Nicknames

KarlyKarlie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Karla…

Carla— the nearest alternate spelling of the same name with the same Germanic root

Marlena— shares the two-syllable Germanic feminine sound with -a ending

Carlotta— the extended Italian form of the same Karl root

Darlene— same mid-century feminine two-syllable name with similar -arla/-arlene sound

Frequently Asked

What does the name Karla mean?

Karla means free woman, as the feminine form of Karl, from Old High German meaning free man or full-grown person.

How do you pronounce Karla?

It is said KAR-lah, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Karla the same as Carla?

Yes, Karla and Carla are the K- and C-spelling variants of the same name, both feminine forms of Karl/Carlos.

Is Karla a popular name?

Karla is popular in Scandinavia, Germany, and among Hispanic communities in the United States.