Carla
Say it: KAR-la/ˈkɑːlə/
GirlMeans usually explained as "free man", from Carl5 letters2 syllables
#325
in Ireland (2025)
#329 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#117
best rank (2000)
1,274
babies since 1964
Down 23
10-year rank change
Carla through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #329 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 9 | #394 |
| 2022 | 8 | #453 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 11 | #355 |
| 2019 | 9 | #419 |
| 2018 | 9 | #434 |
| 2017 | 18 | #260 |
| 2016 | 27 | #187 |
| 2015 | 16 | #306 |
| 2014 | 30 | #180 |
| 2013 | 27 | #207 |
| 2012 | 18 | #281 |
| 2011 | 38 | #159 |
| 2010 | 31 | #194 |
| 2009 | 54 | #123 |
| 2008 | 42 | #144 |
| 2007 | 38 | #160 |
| 2006 | 33 | #152 |
| 2005 | 27 | #166 |
| 2004 | 24 | #174 |
| 2003 | 30 | #147 |
| 2002 | 23 | #170 |
| 2001 | 27 | #152 |
| 2000 | 36 | #117 |
| 1999 | 24 | #153 |
| 1998 | 32 | #124 |
| 1997 | 42 | #123 |
| 1996 | 37 | #137 |
| 1995 | 25 | #173 |
| 1994 | 26 | #168 |
| 1993 | 27 | #164 |
| 1992 | 19 | #213 |
| 1991 | 31 | #158 |
| 1990 | 36 | #139 |
| 1989 | 27 | #175 |
| 1988 | 19 | #214 |
| 1987 | 31 | #164 |
| 1986 | 21 | #205 |
| 1985 | 24 | #203 |
| 1984 | 22 | #218 |
| 1983 | 20 | #224 |
| 1982 | 22 | #225 |
| 1981 | 21 | #230 |
| 1980 | 20 | #235 |
| 1979 | 20 | #230 |
| 1978 | 12 | #291 |
| 1977 | 7 | #369 |
| 1976 | 18 | #236 |
| 1975 | 13 | #262 |
| 1974 | 7 | #340 |
| 1973 | 5 | #402 |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | 8 | #303 |
| 1970 | 3 | #447 |
| 1969 | 8 | #288 |
| 1968 | 6 | #307 |
| 1967 | 4 | #354 |
| 1965 | 3 | #385 |
| 1964 | 6 | #274 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Carla mean?
Usually explained as "free man", from Carl
German and Italian, the feminine of Carl.
Say it right
KARla
The story of Carla
Carla is a feminine form of Carl, and of its relatives Carlos and Charles. These go back to a Germanic word for a man, and in Old English ceorl meant a free man who was not a noble.
The name came into English from German and Italian. It is also spelled Karla.
In Ireland Carla was a modest choice in the 1960s and grew slowly. It reached number 117 in 2000, its best rank, and had its biggest year in 2009, with 54 girls. It has been rarer since, with 12 girls in 2025. It did better in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 79 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Carla (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Carla
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Carla | 12 | 1,274 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #79 (1997); 294 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.