| Meaning | free man |
| Origin | English, German |
| Gender | Girl |
| Popularity | Moderate |
| Length | 5 |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Syllabification | Car-ly |
Fresh, friendly, and full of energy, Carly brings a bright, sunny disposition to any introduction. This name radiates approachability and warmth, suggesting someone who makes friends easily and brings positivity to every situation. The compact four letters pack personality and punch, creating a name that's easy to spell, easy to say, and impossible to forget. Carly strikes many as quintessentially modern yet has enough history to avoid feeling like a passing trend. The name's informal character works to its advantage, creating instant familiarity without sacrificing professionalism or elegance when needed. It pairs exceptionally well with longer, more traditional middle and last names, providing nice balance in the complete name structure. Parents drawn to Carly typically appreciate straightforward choices that don't require explanation or constant correction. There's an athletic, active quality to the name that suits an energetic, engaged child who approaches life with enthusiasm. Carly represents the kind of name that grows with its bearer, remaining age-appropriate and appealing from toddlerhood through retirement, adapting naturally to each life stage.
| Car |
| Carlie |
| Lee |
| Carl |
| Carly Simon | American singer-songwriter |
| Carly Rae Jepsen | Canadian singer-songwriter |
| Carly Fiorina | American businesswoman and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard |
| Carly Chaikin | American actress |
| Carly Hughes | American actress and singer |
| Carly Pope | Canadian actress |
| Carly Patterson | American Olympic gymnast |
| Carly Booth | Scottish professional golfer |
| Carly Schroeder | American actress |
| Carly Foulkes | Canadian model and actress, known as the T-Mobile girl |
| Carly Smithson | Irish-American singer |
| Carly Stenson | English actress and singer |
| Carly Gullickson | American tennis player |
| Carly Zucker | American sportscaster |
| Carly Sonenclar | American actress and singer |
| Carly Ritter | American actress and musician |
| Carly Hennessey | American singer |
| Carly Hibberd | Australian cyclist |
| Carly Shay | iCarly TV series |
| Carly Corinthos | General Hospital TV series |
| Carly Manning | Days of Our Lives TV series |
| Carly Tenney | As the World Turns TV series |
| Carly Reynolds | Port Charles TV series |
| Carly Carmine | Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime series |
| Carly Nagisa | Cardfight!! Vanguard anime series |
| Carly Brooks-Spencer | The Bold and the Beautiful TV series |
| Carly Diggle | Arrow TV series |
| Carly Witwicky | Transformers comics and TV series |
| Carly Beth Caldwell | Goosebumps book series |
| Carly | Harvey Street Kids animated series |
| Carly Kee | The Archies comic series |
| Carly Glickman | Power Rangers Dino Charge TV series |
| Carly Greig | Neighbours TV series |
| Carly Spencer | Thomas and Friends TV series |
| Carly Ferguson | Home and Away TV series |
| Carly Burns | Fame L.A. TV series |
| Carly Brooks | Gone Girl novel and film |