Carly

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAR-lee /ˈkɑːr.li/High

Meaning: Free woman; diminutive of Carla, feminine of Carl/Charles, from Germanic karl (free man)High

In 30 seconds: A breezy English diminutive of Carla meaning 'free woman.' It was a top-100 girls' name in the 1970s–1990s, associated with singer Carly Simon, and retains a sunny, casual charm.

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Origin HighGermanic, English

MeaningFree woman; diminutive of Carla, feminine of Carl/Charles, from Germanic karl (free man)

U.S. rank (2025)#1009 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births248 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1995

Total births (all-time)≈ 66,462

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Carly is a diminutive of Carla, the Italian and Spanish feminine form of Carlo/Carlos, themselves derived from Germanic karl (free man), the root of Charles. The -ly ending emerged in English as a softened, informal variant in the 20th century.

Carly climbed into the U.S. top 100 in the 1970s and peaked in the 1990s, aided significantly by the profile of singer-songwriter Carly Simon. It has declined since then but retains a recognizable, friendly profile, ranking #873 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Carly Simon's 1972 song You're So Vain is one of rock's great mysteries — she has said Mick Jagger sang backup vocals and spent decades teasing which celebrity the song was about.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Carly — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarlieKarleeKarli

Nicknames

Car

Famous Bearers

★Carly Simon (1943–present)
American singer-songwriter known for You're So Vain and Anticipation. Her fame in the 1970s contributed to the name's rise.

If you like Carly…

Carla— the parent name from which Carly descends

Hailey— similar rhyming -lee-ending girl name from the same era

Harley— two-syllable -lee-ending name with the same bouncy feel

Charly— shares Carly's English roots

Lilly— another English name

Explore names like Carly

By themeclassic germanic diminutive casual

By meaningFreedom

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Carly mean?

Carly means 'free woman,' as a diminutive of Carla, the feminine form of Carl/Charles, from Germanic karl (free man).

How do you pronounce Carly?

It's said KAR-lee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Carly a boy or girl name?

Carly is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Carly?

Carly ranked #873 for U.S. girls in 2024.