NamePetalNamePetal

Carly

Carly is a girl's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 308 girls in the United States.

Carly at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑɹli/
Also spelled
Carl

About the name Carly

Carly belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess. It travels in a few spellings: Carl.

In the United States, Carly first appears in Social Security records in 1951. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #122 in 1995, and in 2024 308 babies received the name — 66,214 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Carly in US records

First recorded (US)
1951
Best US rank
#122 in 1995
Peak year
1995
Babies named Carly in 2024
308
Total since 1880
66,214

Carly in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#187 in 1996
Babies named Carly in 2025
7
Total since 1996
2,523

Spellings & short forms

Carl

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

NancyEnglishBettyEnglishEmilyEnglishAshleyEnglishAmandaEnglishStephanieEnglishShirleyEnglishCatherineEnglish

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Carly mean?

The meaning of Carly is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Carly a boy or girl name?

Carly is a girl name. In 2024, 308 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Carly?

Carly comes from the English & American tradition. It is also spelled Carl.

How popular is the name Carly?

Carly first appears in US records in 1951. Its best-ever ranking was #122 in 1995, and 308 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Carly?

Carly is pronounced /ˈkɑɹli/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.