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Karla as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Karla

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The baby name Karla is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KAR-lə (English: /ˈkɑːrlə/), KAR-lah (Spanish: /ˈkarla/).

Karla is Germanic in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: KAR-lə (English: /ˈkɑːrlə/), KAR-lah (Spanish: /ˈkarla/)

What is the meaning of the name Karla ?

The baby name Karla is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KAR-lə (English: /ˈkɑːrlə/), KAR-lah (Spanish: /ˈkarla/).

Karla is Germanic in Origin.

Karla is the Germanic feminine form of Karl, cognate with Carl and Charles, from Proto-Germanic *karilaz 'man; free person'. Through Latinized Carolus it links to the wider Carol-/Carl- name family. Used across German, Scandinavian, Slavic, and Spanish-speaking contexts, the K spelling is common, while Carla predominates in Italian and Portuguese.

In records, Karla appears in Central Europe by the 19th century and spread internationally in the 20th century; it charted in the United States mid-century, seeing strongest use in the 1960s-80s, and remains familiar in Latin America and the Balkans. Meaning centers on freedom and sturdy, common folk origins. Variants include Carla, Karola/Carola, Karolina/Carolina (related), and diminutives or short forms such as Kara, Kari, Karli/Karlie, and Carly. Related masculine names are Karl/Carl/Charles; feminine cognates Charlotte and Caroline share the same root.

Karla has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Karla

Karla Álvarez Actor · Born 1972 · Mexico Karla Álvarez was a Mexican actress best known for her roles in Maria Mercedes and Alma Rebelde, and for appearing on Big Brother VIP in 2003. Her final TV appearance was in Qué Bonito Amor shortly before her death in 2013. Karla Henry Actor · Born 1986 · Philippines Karla Henry is best known as the Filipino-Canadian beauty queen who won Miss Earth 2008, becoming the first Philippine delegate and the first Asian winner of the title. Born on May 23, 1986, she is also known for her work as a model. Karla Crome Actor · Born 1988 · United Kingdom Karla Crome is a British actress and writer best known for playing Jess in Misfits and for her role in Hit & Miss. She has also appeared in other UK television dramas, including Murder, and was named one of Screen International’s “UK Stars of Tomorrow” in 2012.

Karla – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
CR Girls 0 #7 3,981 11,342
SV Girls 0 #7 12 458
HN Girls 0 #8 31 884
SV 0 #8 4 283
MX 0 #10 2,142 8,339
MX Girls 0 #10 37,549 17,781
HN 0 #13 10 704
GT Girls 0 #15 2,521 7,500
CR 0 #20 196 5,526
PA Girls 0 #27 1,535 9,861
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
PR 0 #37 19 1,497
ID 0 #38 2 2,238
EC Girls 0 #40 390 3,650
HR Girls 0 #45 1,276 3,687
PR Girls 0 #45 156 3,171
MO 0 #51 2 2,706
GT 0 #56 439 5,948
EC 0 #64 53 2,502
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
PA 0 #66 66 3,797
HR 0 #68 165 2,081
PH 0 #70 27 5,607
JP 0 #75 3 4,057
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
CL Girls 0 #78 6,052 14,098
PE Girls 0 #79 6,756 14,861
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
CN 0 #83 4 3,857
KZ 0 #90 5 1,452
PE 0 #91 309 6,350
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
CL 0 #98 697 6,867
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
QA 0 #103 4 7,011
CZ Girls 0 #108 534 5,378
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
BN Girls 0 #111 4 5,459
Norway Girls 2025 #112 15 453
HU 0 #114 2 1,675
BR Girls 0 #120 4,253 12,708
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
CY Girls 0 #122 4 3,755
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
Switzerland Girls 2024 #131 5 1,786
MU 0 #134 4 3,613
RS Girls 0 #137 1 1,651
CZ 0 #141 46 3,154
MT Girls 0 #145 9 3,773
BW Girls 0 #149 3 4,216
BR 0 #151 233 5,969
BO Girls 0 #156 1,135 9,488
Sweden Girls 2022 #160 20 1,568
SI Girls 0 #160 15 2,769
CO Girls 0 #162 5,542 16,140
AE 0 #168 10 10,220
AR 0 #176 11 2,915
UY 0 #176 7 2,477
KZ Girls 0 #178 194 5,862
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
IR 0 #181 49 4,221
IR Girls 0 #184 565 8,334
LU Girls 0 #186 5 4,850
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
LT Girls 0 #199 2 1,904
AO Girls 0 #200 10 4,575
DK 0 #200 7 5,198
PL 0 #203 10 2,600
JP Girls 0 #207 39 6,592
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
JM Girls 0 #225 35 7,507
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
AL Girls 0 #226 2 4,141
BG Girls 0 #227 5 3,559
BO 0 #228 161 6,868
PT 0 #231 16 4,161
NA Girls 0 #232 6 7,146
EC Boys 0 #240 7 3,322
PH Girls 0 #240 153 13,098
GR Girls 0 #246 4 6,293
HR Boys 0 #246 13 3,997
PT Girls 0 #251 243 7,952
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
MO Girls 0 #261 3 7,056
SG 0 #275 8 11,010
DK Girls 0 #276 41 7,429
Canada Girls 2024 #278 8 2,795
IL 0 #280 3 6,291
QA Girls 0 #286 31 15,378
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
Finland 0 #295 13 830
Spain Girls 0 #297 1,447 5,561
CO 0 #300 203 7,768
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
JO Girls 0 #308 18 7,570
SA 0 #310 3 10,560
PL Girls 0 #312 43 5,096
MU Girls 0 #320 32 8,539
Spain 0 #331 122 2,326
CN Girls 0 #335 15 8,829
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
Austria Girls 0 #338 83 1,885
OM Girls 0 #340 57 15,987
Finland Girls 0 #347 45 1,368
UY Girls 0 #347 177 6,731
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
NL 0 #354 38 2,481
SD Girls 0 #354 5 7,678
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
Germany Girls 0 #379 660 4,949
PT Boys 0 #379 3 7,951
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
AR Girls 0 #394 234 8,289
France Girls 2021 #395 11 3,185
Germany 0 #395 43 2,542
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
ZA 0 #403 45 14,421
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
GT Boys 0 #417 58 7,625
Finland Girls 2026 #440 438 3,895
CR Boys 0 #450 38 10,188
PA Boys 0 #455 27 9,305
AR Boys 0 #475 9 7,628
IQ Girls 0 #479 26 11,303
KW Girls 0 #485 31 19,177
RU Girls 0 #485 14 11,913
AE Girls 0 #501 53 20,968
PS Girls 0 #503 21 10,981
CM Girls 0 #504 37 11,671
SY 0 #521 222 11,684
BH 0 #542 12 17,937
LY 0 #551 9 12,703
SG Girls 0 #553 34 18,916
United States Girls 2024 #554 385 8,487
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
IR Boys 0 #561 5 10,162
LB 0 #564 95 13,263
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
BO Boys 0 #578 15 9,244
MX Boys 0 #583 467 16,355
HK Girls 0 #595 21 16,104
IL Girls 0 #595 23 11,648
CL Boys 0 #617 49 13,390
IT 0 #622 93 4,183
NL Girls 0 #631 337 5,933
BR Boys 0 #685 67 12,213
IQ Boys 0 #695 3 13,071
IT Girls 0 #697 1,052 9,415
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
NG Girls 0 #768 19 15,093
ZA Girls 0 #786 374 25,928
PE Boys 0 #792 87 14,506
TN 0 #793 37 13,765
KW Boys 0 #804 3 18,755
CO Boys 0 #821 100 15,656
EG Girls 0 #855 105 14,742
SA Girls 0 #858 78 25,931
United States Boys 2009 #874 6 7,454
Spain Boys 0 #913 18 5,610
OM Boys 0 #915 4 17,948
EG Boys 0 #922 4 15,035
MY Girls 0 #982 13 24,821
IN Boys 0 #1,036 4 16,750
MA 0 #1,056 73 20,986
DZ 0 #1,057 120 20,130
AE Boys 0 #1,135 9 22,615
TR 0 #1,177 35 19,440
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
ZA Boys 0 #1,269 4 25,619
IT Boys 0 #1,455 17 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,600 15 28,008

Karla is popular in 88 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland
France
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
Norway

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

People also ask about Karla

Karla is predominantly a girl's name.
Karla is a 2 syllable name, pronounced KAR-lə (English: /ˈkɑːrlə/), KAR-lah (Spanish: /ˈkarla/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Carla, Karly, Karlie, Karola and Karlae.
Yes, very popular — Karla ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Karla ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Karla's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 3 notable people named Karla are in our database, including Karla Álvarez (Actor), Karla Henry (Actor), Karla Crome (Actor).