Carley
Girl name · #2726 in 2025 · Uniqueness 85/100
Carley ranks #2726 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 63 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1106, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,571 girls born in 2025 was named Carley.
The 104-year story
Carley first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 713 girls were named Carley — good for #389 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Carley per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carley in class?
Carley scores 85 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Carley will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Carley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carley is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Carleys were MO (5), OH (5), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Carley
Statistically, parents drawn to Carley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kayley, Karley, Kaley, Bayley, and Hayley.
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Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 | #2719 |
| 2024 | 53 | #3047 |
| 2023 | 62 | #2757 |
| 2022 | 86 | #2193 |
| 2021 | 123 | #1680 |
| 2020 | 108 | #1818 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1585 |
| 2018 | 151 | #1451 |
| 2017 | 147 | #1505 |
| 2016 | 171 | #1371 |
| 2015 | 234 | #1106 |
| 2014 | 237 | #1079 |
| 2013 | 293 | #882 |
| 2012 | 272 | #939 |
| 2011 | 291 | #896 |
| 2010 | 360 | #757 |
| 2009 | 402 | #720 |
| 2008 | 489 | #632 |
| 2007 | 563 | #546 |
| 2006 | 533 | #552 |
| 2005 | 628 | #486 |
| 2004 | 567 | #511 |
| 2003 | 537 | #525 |
| 2002 | 572 | #488 |
| 2001 | 607 | #456 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Carley a popular girl name?
Carley ranked #2726 among girls in 2025 with 63 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1106.
When was the name Carley most popular?
Carley peaked in 1998, when 713 American girls received the name (ranked #389 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,571 newborn American girls was named Carley. It scores 85/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.