Karla
Girl name · #802 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Karla ranks #802 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 340 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #510, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,294 girls born in 2025 was named Karla.
Babies named Karla per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 110-year story
Karla first appears in the Social Security records in 1915, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1964, when 2,060 girls were named Karla — good for #182 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Karla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Karla in class?
Karla scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Karla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Karla is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Karlas were TX (56), CA (49), FL (32), NY (22), GA (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Karla
Statistically, parents drawn to Karla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Carla, Darla, Maura, Lea, and Greta.
CarlaDarlaMauraLeaGretaDeliaMartinaMarla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Karla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 340 | #799 |
| 2024 | 385 | #732 |
| 2023 | 398 | #710 |
| 2022 | 425 | #689 |
| 2021 | 411 | #701 |
| 2020 | 420 | #676 |
| 2019 | 427 | #680 |
| 2018 | 476 | #628 |
| 2017 | 553 | #557 |
| 2016 | 554 | #561 |
| 2015 | 617 | #510 |
| 2014 | 621 | #503 |
| 2013 | 647 | #475 |
| 2012 | 761 | #412 |
| 2011 | 910 | #352 |
| 2010 | 989 | #324 |
| 2009 | 1,116 | #298 |
| 2008 | 1,421 | #243 |
| 2007 | 1,581 | #219 |
| 2006 | 1,656 | #208 |
| 2005 | 1,716 | #203 |
| 2004 | 1,749 | #196 |
| 2003 | 1,780 | #179 |
| 2002 | 1,840 | #175 |
| 2001 | 1,699 | #193 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Karla a popular girl name?
Karla ranked #802 among girls in 2025 with 340 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #510.
When was the name Karla most popular?
Karla peaked in 1964, when 2,060 American girls received the name (ranked #182 that year). Since 1964 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Karla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,294 newborn American girls was named Karla. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.