Carly
A feminine form of Carl with -y, taken to use in the latter half of the 20th century; also a pet form of Carla, Carlene and Carlotta.
Every Carly since 1951 — 66,626 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Carly
Carly is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,009 in 2025 with 248 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1951, 66,626 American babies have been named Carly. Its peak came in 1995, when 2,585 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Carly stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Carly year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 248 | #1,009 | — | — |
| 2024 | 308 | #875 | — | — |
| 2023 | 361 | #780 | — | — |
| 2022 | 366 | #778 | — | — |
| 2021 | 447 | #664 | — | — |
| 2020 | 471 | #621 | — | — |
| 2019 | 536 | #567 | — | — |
| 2018 | 655 | #478 | — | — |
| 2017 | 695 | #456 | — | — |
| 2016 | 807 | #413 | — | — |
| 2015 | 846 | #389 | — | — |
| 2014 | 916 | #357 | — | — |
| 2013 | 1,019 | #322 | — | — |
| 2012 | 1,110 | #285 | — | — |
| 2011 | 1,277 | #248 | — | — |
| 2010 | 1,439 | #218 | — | — |
| 2009 | 1,508 | #215 | — | — |
| 2008 | 1,685 | #197 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1,323 | #261 | 6 | #11,138 |
| 2006 | 1,351 | #252 | — | — |
| 2005 | 1,749 | #199 | — | — |
| 2004 | 1,926 | #177 | 9 | #7,617 |
| 2003 | 1,762 | #183 | — | — |
| 2002 | 1,590 | #206 | — | — |
| 2001 | 1,833 | #176 | 6 | #9,437 |
| 2000 | 1,961 | #169 | — | — |
| 1995 | 2,585 | #122 | — | — |
| 1990 | 1,777 | #163 | 7 | #6,504 |
| 1985 | 1,311 | #202 | 7 | #5,220 |
| 1980 | 752 | #322 | — | — |
| 1975 | 318 | #543 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Carly
- Carly Simon Singer · b. 1945
- Carly Fiorina Businessperson · b. 1954
- Carly Rae Jepsen Singer · b. 1985
- Carly Chaikin Actor · b. 1990
- Carly Colón Wrestler · b. 1979
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carly mean?
A feminine form of Carl with -y, taken to use in the latter half of the 20th century; also a pet form of Carla, Carlene and Carlotta.
How popular is the name Carly in 2025?
Carly ranked #1,009 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 248 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Carly?
66,626 babies have been named Carly in the United States since 1951, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Carly most popular?
Carly peaked in 1995, when 2,585 newborns received the name.
Is Carly a boy or girl name?
Carly is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Carly rising or falling?
Carly is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Carly?
Well-known people named Carly include Carly Simon (singer), Carly Fiorina (businessperson), Carly Rae Jepsen (singer).