Carla
free woman (Germanic via Spanish/Italian)
Carla is a spanish / english girl name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 414, with 19,680 records. It has 2 syllables.
Origin and meaning
free woman (Germanic via Spanish/Italian)
Carla originates as a Romance language feminine derivative of the Germanic root Karl/Charles. Introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era and later sustained by English-language media, it remains a classic, widely recognized feminine name across the country.
Carla is a feminine form of Carlos or Charles, derived from the Germanic name Karl meaning 'free man'. In the Philippines, it is well established through both Spanish naming traditions and ongoing 20th-century American English influence.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently used as a standalone first name or paired in compound names such as Carla Jane or Maria Carla. Common informal nicknames include Carl, Caleng, or Cai.
Related forms
- Carla Spanish
- Carla Italian
- Carla Portuguese
- Carole French
- Karla German
Would your family give Carla?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Carla for 2026 yet.
Carla with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related girl names
About the name Carla
How do I use Carla with two Filipino surnames?
Carla is the given name. The full name is Carla + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Carla a common girl name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Carla is number 414, with 19,680 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.