Carley
Girl name · English · German · Scandinavian
Meaningfree · English form of Carly
- US rank
- #2,719
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #376 in 1996
63 babies were named Carley in the US in 2025. It has dropped 901 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1921–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Carley you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 25,510 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Carley, 63 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Carley would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryCarley first shows up in US birth records in 1912, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 113 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1996, when it ranked #376. Today it's #2,719, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowCarley was 9.7× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 2,643 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 25,510.
- TrendCarley has slipped 901 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,719. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedCarley is most popular in Missouri, where it ranks #926. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningCarley is an English form of Carly, which means “free”. Our records link it to English, German and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Carley
Carley is a girl name of English, German and Scandinavian origin meaning “free”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-ley”. US birth records list Carley for girls from 1921 to 2025, in 97 of those 105 years. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked #376 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #2,719, with 63 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 12 | 83,488 girls |
| 1930s | 11 | 95,238 girls |
| 1940s | 5.5 | 182,482 girls |
| 1950s | 3.1 | 317,460 girls |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 480,769 girls |
| 1970s | 29 | 34,106 girls |
| 1980s | 103 | 9,732 girls |
| 1990s | 330 | 3,028 girls |
| 2000s | 303 | 3,304 girls |
| 2010s | 130 | 7,672 girls |
| 2020s | 51 | 19,691 girls |
Other spellings of Carley
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Carley
What does the name Carley mean?
Carley means “free” in English, as a form of Carly.
What is the origin of the name Carley?
Carley has English, German, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Carley a boy or girl name?
Carley is a girl name.
How popular is the name Carley?
Carley ranked #2,719 for US girls in 2025, given to 63 babies. Its best year was 1996 (#376).