Karla Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Karla is a name of Germanic origin, meaning 'free woman'. It has evolved through historical forms like Carlus and Karl, reflecting a transition from masculine to feminine usage. The name is perceived positively today, often associated with strength and independence, and has gained popularity since the 20th century. There is no biblical relevance linked to this name.
The name Karla is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Karla has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Karla' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5396th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4718th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4984th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11483rd out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4467th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 726th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 239th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 227th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 270th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 225th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 613th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Karla' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Karla"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑːr.lə/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
Karla is derived from the Germanic name 'Karl', which means 'free man' or 'man'. The feminine form 'Karla' is a variation that evolved from the masculine name.
Meaning
free woman
Language Evolution
Carlus, Carl, Karla
Historical Usage
Karla gained popularity in the 20th century, becoming a common name in various cultures, especially in German-speaking countries and later in English-speaking regions.
Variants & Derivatives
Carla, Karly, Karlyn
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Karla is viewed as a modern and strong name, often associated with independence and strength.
Famous People
Karla Homolka, a Canadian serial killer, Karla Bonoff, an American singer-songwriter, Karla Souza, a Mexican actress
Explore More Karla Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Karla"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Karla"
"Karla" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 5396th of 7552 | 25 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4718th of 10718 | 76 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4984th of 16616 | 145 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11483rd of 24088 | 63 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4467th of 9107 | 71 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 726th of 9204 | 1,782 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 239th of 12526 | 22,879 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 227th of 19264 | 20,569 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 270th of 27321 | 16,653 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 225th of 35406 | 23,355 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 613th of 30306 | 5,932 |
Regional Popularity of "Karla" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
36.17% 2285th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Karla" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.60% 473rd/1546 |
53.02% 825th/1556 |
51.64% 1215th/2353 |
29.22% 452nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
7.81% 174th/2227 |
14.77% 359th/2430 |
11.22% 320th/2853 |
7.75% 215th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.55% 163rd/2937 |
10.39% 362nd/3483 |
7.08% 249th/3518 |
5.04% 204th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.80% 361st/3685 |
9.34% 418th/4475 |
5.16% 268th/5194 |
2.69% 170th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.25% 424th/4582 |
7.16% 370th/5164 |
2.87% 210th/7313 |
1.89% 141st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.80% 988th/3984 |
15.27% 685th/4487 |
8.47% 578th/6822 |
7.50% 471st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Karla"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Karla" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.