Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Charla since 1917
Babies named Charla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1969, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Charla's real moment was 1977.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 69 |
| 1930s | 184 |
| 1940s | 864 |
| 1950s | 1,522 |
| 1960s | 1,869 |
| 1970s | 1,698 |
| 1980s | 1,039 |
| 1990s | 414 |
| 2000s | 215 |
| 2010s | 121 |
| 2020s | 20 |
Meaning & origin
Charla entered U.S. birth records in 1917 as a feminine variant of Charles. It saw modest use over the following decades, reaching its highest rank of 1,135 in 1977 during the peak of its popularity. Since 1985, its usage has steadily declined, with no top-1000 appearances in recent years. The name follows a pattern of creating feminine forms of male names by adding 'a', a trend popular in the mid-20th century. While its exact origins are uncertain, the connection to Charles and the meaning 'free man' is commonly cited. Charla remains a distinctive choice, having never broken into the top 1000 nationally and appearing primarily in scattered records across the U.S.
Charla is likely a feminine variant of Charles, which derives from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man'. It emerged in the United States in the early 20th century as part of a trend of creating feminine forms of male names, often by adding an 'a' suffix. Its usage peaked in the 1970s but has since declined.
Where Charla is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Charlie, Char, Lala
Sibling names for Charla
Names that share Charla's style, for a brother or sister.
