Karla

Meaning of Karla

Karla means "free woman" or "strong". It's a feminine form of the name Karl or Charles.

Karla has German roots — browse every German baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Karla

Karla has cooled off, slipping to #803 in 2025, down from a peak of #175 in 2002.

Notable people named Karla

• Karla Souza
  Mexican actress (How to Get Away)
• Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao
  Singer and songwriter
• Karla Homolka
  Canadian serial killer
• Karla Mosley
  American actress and singer
• Karla Jessen Williamson
  Greenlandic-Canadian Inuk professor

More German names

Questions about the name Karla

What does the name Karla mean?

Karla means karla means "free woman" or "strong". it's a feminine form of the name karl or charles, and it comes from German origins.

Is Karla a boy's or a girl's name?

Karla is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Karla?

In 2025, Karla ranked #803 for girls, down from #731 the year before.

When was Karla most popular?

Karla peaked at #175 in 2002.