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Carla as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Carla

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The baby name Carla is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɑːrlə/ (KAR-luh).

Carla is Germanic in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːrlə/ (KAR-luh)

What is the meaning of the name Carla ?

The baby name Carla is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɑːrlə/ (KAR-luh).

Carla is Germanic in Origin.

Carla is the Romance-language feminine form of Carl/Carlo, ultimately from Old High German Karl, meaning “free man,” now understood as “free person.” It developed as Carla in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, while Germanic and Slavic traditions favor Karla. The name sits within the broad Charles family, alongside Charlotte, Caroline/Carolina, Carlene/Carleen, and Carlotta. Common diminutives and affectionate forms include Carli/Carlie, Carly, Spanish Carlita, and Portuguese Carlinha.

Documented across Europe by the 19th century, Carla entered wider English usage in the early 20th century and surged mid-century, peaking in many Anglophone charts during the 1960s–70s. Its steady international presence has been buoyed by figures such as American soul singer Carla Thomas, actress Carla Gugino, and Franco-Italian singer and former First Lady Carla Bruni. Today the name balances classic roots with a compact, modern sound.

Carla has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Carla

Carla Gugino Actor · Born 1971 · United States Carla Gugino is an American actress best known for Spy Kids and also widely recognized for roles in Sin City and Watchmen. She began acting in films like Troop Beverly Hills and This Boy's Life before building a long career in movies and television. Carla Del Ponte Politician · Born 1947 · Switzerland Carla Del Ponte is best known for serving as the chief prosecutor for the UN war crimes tribunals on the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. A Swiss former attorney general, she was appointed in 1999 to lead prosecutions at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), succeeding Louise Arbour. Carla Juri Actor · Born 1985 · Switzerland Carla Juri is a Swiss actress best known for films like Wetlands, Blade Runner 2049, and Finsterworld. Born on 2 January 1985, she has also appeared in 180°.
Carla Laemmle Actor · Born 1909 · United States Carla Laemmle was an American actress and dancer best known for her roles in Dracula (1931) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Born Rebekah Isabelle Laemmle, she was the niece of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle and was also occasionally known professionally as Beth Laemmle. Carla Gravina Actor · Born 1941 · Italy Carla Gravina is best known as an Italian actress, and she also had a career in politics. She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in La Terrazza (1980). Carla Abellana Actor · Born 1986 · Philippines Carla Abellana is a Filipino actress best known for playing the lead in the Philippine adaptation of Rosalinda. She also became well known for starring in Basahang Ginto, My Husband's Lover, and My Destiny.

Carla – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
PT Girls 0 #4 16,011 7,952
AO Girls 0 #8 656 4,575
MU Girls 0 #8 3,307 8,539
LU Girls 0 #9 358 4,850
BO Girls 0 #17 5,632 9,488
PT 0 #18 1,418 4,161
AO 0 #22 63 2,729
HN 0 #22 1 704
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
MU 0 #23 306 3,613
BR Girls 0 #24 12,171 12,708
BO 0 #26 873 6,868
NA 0 #29 5 2,537
NL Girls 0 #30 7,175 5,933
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
HN Girls 0 #36 3 884
LU 0 #37 30 2,830
CL Girls 0 #41 10,863 14,098
PR 0 #44 12 1,497
MO 0 #46 7 2,706
AR Girls 0 #49 3,663 8,289
BR 0 #50 637 5,969
IT Girls 0 #50 57,915 9,415
PH 0 #55 42 5,607
CL 0 #59 1,289 6,867
CY 0 #59 2 1,632
UY Girls 0 #64 2,201 6,731
AR 0 #70 137 2,915
JM 0 #70 18 3,714
Spain Girls 0 #72 11,652 5,561
PE 0 #76 352 6,350
PE Girls 0 #76 6,864 14,861
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
CN 0 #78 9 3,857
QA 0 #79 22 7,011
EC 0 #80 36 2,502
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
UY 0 #83 105 2,477
EC Girls 0 #88 204 3,650
PA 0 #88 43 3,797
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
Switzerland Girls 2024 #95 41 1,786
NL 0 #95 437 2,481
ID Girls 0 #98 5 3,319
PR Girls 0 #99 65 3,171
TW 0 #100 4 4,523
Spain 0 #101 760 2,326
PA Girls 0 #106 727 9,861
Norway Girls 2023 #108 10 467
CR 0 #110 49 5,526
CY Girls 0 #111 11 3,755
BN Girls 0 #112 3 5,459
IT 0 #113 2,852 4,183
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
KW 0 #116 6 5,216
OM 0 #116 6 6,215
MT Girls 0 #118 34 3,773
PH Girls 0 #123 342 13,098
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
GR 0 #134 2 3,911
JM Girls 0 #136 145 7,507
RS Girls 0 #137 1 1,651
GT Girls 0 #138 664 7,500
BW Girls 0 #143 9 4,216
ZA 0 #145 344 14,421
AE 0 #149 29 10,220
BW Boys 0 #154 1 4,685
Sweden Girls 2022 #158 22 1,568
Belgium Girls 2024 #163 23 424
JP Girls 0 #163 86 6,592
GT 0 #170 156 5,948
NA Girls 0 #172 53 7,146
HR 0 #175 7 2,081
MX Girls 0 #177 5,491 17,781
SI Girls 0 #177 1 2,769
MX 0 #184 268 8,339
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
MO Girls 0 #192 60 7,056
DK 0 #194 10 5,198
Austria 0 #201 13 850
France Girls 2021 #206 232 3,185
PL 0 #211 2 2,600
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
LU Boys 0 #212 9 4,970
QA Girls 0 #213 105 15,378
CR Girls 0 #219 424 11,342
HU Girls 0 #221 5 3,308
LB 0 #221 735 13,263
PS 0 #223 4 5,692
AL Girls 0 #224 4 4,141
GR Girls 0 #226 17 6,293
BG Girls 0 #228 4 3,559
AO Boys 0 #233 10 5,568
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
EC Boys 0 #242 5 3,322
HR Girls 0 #250 40 3,687
DK Girls 0 #254 63 7,429
SG 0 #256 14 11,010
CO Girls 0 #257 2,884 16,140
Canada Girls 2024 #266 20 2,795
IL 0 #274 9 6,291
TW Girls 0 #281 9 8,139
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
PT Boys 0 #297 72 7,951
ZA Girls 0 #302 2,000 25,928
SA 0 #304 9 10,560
JO Girls 0 #306 20 7,570
CN Girls 0 #307 43 8,829
OM Girls 0 #314 83 15,987
Germany Girls 0 #321 856 4,949
KZ Girls 0 #326 7 5,862
Austria Girls 0 #327 94 1,885
CZ Girls 0 #331 11 5,378
GH Girls 0 #333 5 6,973
HK 0 #337 12 8,483
PL Girls 0 #337 18 5,096
Finland Girls 0 #338 54 1,368
MU Boys 0 #341 17 8,477
AE Girls 0 #351 204 20,968
MY 0 #351 4 12,352
Germany 0 #353 86 2,542
SD Girls 0 #357 2 7,678
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
KW Girls 0 #371 145 19,177
PH Boys 0 #371 13 11,440
CO 0 #374 108 7,768
UY Boys 0 #379 21 5,922
EG 0 #384 17 6,387
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
AR Boys 0 #400 68 7,628
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
GT Boys 0 #457 18 7,625
CM Girls 0 #461 80 11,671
PA Boys 0 #468 14 9,305
PS Girls 0 #469 55 10,981
CR Boys 0 #478 10 10,188
RU Girls 0 #482 17 11,913
SG Girls 0 #488 99 18,916
IQ Girls 0 #490 15 11,303
Finland Girls 2026 #493 312 3,895
BO Boys 0 #507 86 9,244
BH 0 #508 46 17,937
IR Girls 0 #512 19 8,334
HK Girls 0 #514 102 16,104
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
SY 0 #530 209 11,684
CL Boys 0 #546 121 13,390
IL Girls 0 #553 65 11,648
LY 0 #553 7 12,703
BR Boys 0 #555 204 12,213
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
PS Boys 0 #559 3 10,655
CM Boys 0 #573 3 12,054
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
United States Girls 2024 #666 252 8,487
SA Girls 0 #666 271 25,931
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
SG Boys 0 #734 6 17,960
QA Boys 0 #740 4 18,093
KW Boys 0 #758 12 18,755
NG Girls 0 #758 29 15,093
TN 0 #761 69 13,765
EG Girls 0 #770 191 14,742
PE Boys 0 #784 95 14,506
Spain Boys 0 #803 128 5,610
CO Boys 0 #812 109 15,656
MX Boys 0 #860 123 16,355
OM Boys 0 #913 6 17,948
EG Boys 0 #921 5 15,035
NL Boys 0 #935 17 5,873
MY Girls 0 #941 54 24,821
MA 0 #968 161 20,986
NG Boys 0 #1,001 1 16,906
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
DZ 0 #1,057 120 20,130
AE Boys 0 #1,083 10 22,615
IT Boys 0 #1,147 327 10,046
ZA Boys 0 #1,162 17 25,619
TR 0 #1,175 37 19,440
MY Boys 0 #1,180 3 25,439
SA Boys 0 #1,595 20 28,008

Carla is popular in 87 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Norway
Canada

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Carla

Carla is predominantly a girl's name.
Carla is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈkɑːrlə/ (KAR-luh).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Karla, Carlotta, Carlota, Carletta, Carly and Carli.
Yes, very popular — Carla ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Carla ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Carla's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 11 notable people named Carla are in our database, including Carla Gugino (Actor), Carla Del Ponte (Politician), Carla Juri (Actor).