heyotag

Name meaning & stats

Carla

Carla means “free woman” (Germanic origin). 147,767 US babies since 1940, peak 1961. Notable Carlas are 1.6× over-represented as basketball players.

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What it means

“free woman”

GermanicWell documented

In US birth records

Peak year: 1961

40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s

147,767 US babies were named Carla between 1940 and 2025.

Where Carlas end up

Not enough notable Carlas yet, so this uses the spelling family: Carla, Karla.

Careervs expectedConfidence
Actor0.9×High · 28 people
Writer0.9×Medium · 18 people
Politician1.1×Medium · 18 people
Basketball player1.6×Medium · 16 people

Among notable women who are basketball players, the Carla family show up 1.6× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.

Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.

One more thing…

Carla has a surprise career: 1.4×

Reveal it in Carla's story

Spelling family

The most common spelling: 61% of the family

  • Carla 61%
  • Karla 38%
  • Carola <1%
  • Carlea <1%
  • Karlea <1%
  • Karliah <1%
  • Carliyah <1%
  • Carlia <1%

Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.

Name twins (peaked around 1961)