Carla is a distinctive choice, ranked #638 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Carla in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#638
US Rank #963
About the Name Carla
Carla is holding steady in the rankings at #638. It reached its peak of #186 in 1997 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Carla is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #963 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Carla
Unlikely. With around 61 UK babies named Carla per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Carla in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Carla has held a stable position around #638 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #186 in 1997 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
Carla is more popular in the UK (#638) than in the US (#963). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Carla include: Carla Romano — Carolina (Carla) Romano is a Scottish journalist and producer of Italian descent.; Carla Lockhart — Carla Rebecca Lockhart is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann since the 2019 general...; Carla Ruocco — Carla Ruocco is an Italian politician from the Five Star Movement who served in the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2022..
Carla does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Carlas in the wild.
61
UK babies named Carla (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 21 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Carla
Likely around 1 other Carla in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2022–2023)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Carla
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Carolina (Carla) Romano is a Scottish journalist and producer of Italian descent. Romano studied French and politics at the University of Dundee and has a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the University of Strathclyde.
Carla Rebecca Lockhart is a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Bann since the 2019 general election. She currently serves as the DUP spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs.
Carla Ann Hughes is a former middle school teacher and murderer from Jackson, Mississippi, who was convicted of two counts of capital murder for the November 29, 2006 slayings of her lover's pregnant fiancee, Avis Banks, and Banks's unborn child. She is serving two consecutive sentences of life without parole at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility near Pearl, Mississippi.
Carla Venita Thomas is an American singer, who is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. She is best known for her 1960s recordings for Atlantic and Stax including the hits "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)", "B-A-B-Y" and "Tramp", a duet with Otis Redding.
Carla Ximena García Buscaglia is a Peruvian communicator, writer, and audiovisual producer. García's career in the Peruvian media spans two decades, having worked as columnist for La República from 2008 and 2018 under the title of Esquina baja.
Maria Carla Helena Amado Guevara-Laforteza is a Filipino musical theater actress who performs in both local and international productions. She is known for playing Kim and Gigi in Miss Saigon in West End, London, in the 1990s.
Carla Diane Hayden is an American librarian who served as the 14th librarian of Congress. Hayden was both the first African American and the first woman to hold this post.