How Many People Are Named Carly?
Complete statistics for the name Carly: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Carly is a modern feminine name, most likely a diminutive of Carla or Charlotte, rooted in Germanic origins meaning 'free woman' or 'strong.' About 65,253 people named Carly are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at just 1 in 5,057 Americans. What's striking is how young this name skews, with over half of all Carlys under 30 years old.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 5 is traditionally linked to freedom, adaptability, and a restless curiosity about the world. People connected to the number 5 are said to crave variety and change, often thriving when they follow their adventurous instincts.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 28All 66,374 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1995Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Carly Through the Generations
Carly is essentially a product of the late 20th century. It barely existed before the 1980s, climbed steadily, and hit its peak in 1995 with 2,585 births in a single year. That makes the average Carly just 28 years old today, which lines up almost perfectly with the data. A huge 52% of all Carlys, around 34,396 people, are under 30, while 31,954 sit in the 30 to 60 range. only 24 people named Carly are over 60, which tells you everything about how new this name really is. It simply wasn't given to earlier generations. The gap between all-time births of 66,374 and the living count of 65,253 is remarkably small, meaning almost everyone ever named Carly is still alive. The trend is now declining, so the name feels like a snapshot of a specific era rather than a growing force.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Carly's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Carly
How Many People Have the Name Carly?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 162 people in the United States currently share the name Carly. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,045,983 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Carly a Common or Rare Name?
Carly is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Carly Mean?
Carly means "free woman, feminine strength" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Carly in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Carly Most Popular?
The name Carly reached peak popularity in 1995, with 2,585 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Carly?
Approximately 162 people named Carly live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 162. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,045,983 Americans.
Is Carly a rare name?
Carly is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,045,983 Americans has this name.
What does the name Carly mean?
Carly means "free woman, feminine strength" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Carly more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Carly are male and 100% are female.
When was Carly most popular?
Carly peaked in 1995 with 2,585 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.