Declining since 1997, #2,691 for girls today.
Popularity of Karli since 1961
Babies named Karli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 22 |
| 1970s | 306 |
| 1980s | 1,327 |
| 1990s | 3,666 |
| 2000s | 3,440 |
| 2010s | 1,727 |
| 2020s | 472 |
Meaning & origin
Karli is a modern feminine name that first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1961, reflecting the mid-20th century trend of creating 'i'-ending variants of established names like Carly. Its peak popularity came in 1997, when it reached its highest rank. Since then, its usage has fallen steadily, a trajectory shared by many similar names that rose in the 1990s. In 2025, Karli ranked 2,691, with about 1 in 25,114 baby girls receiving the name. Its most popular states have been Arkansas, Georgia, and Ohio, suggesting a concentration in the South and Midwest. As a variant of Carly, it shares the meaning 'free man' from Germanic origins.
Karli is a modern English variant of Carly, itself a feminine form of Carl, which derives from the Germanic element 'karl' meaning 'free man.' The name Carl was introduced to England by the Normans and became common, with Carly emerging as a feminine form in the 20th century. Karli, with its 'i' ending, reflects a popular trend in modern American naming for distinctive spellings.
Where Karli 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: Kar, Lee
Sibling names for Karli
Names that share Karli's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Karli
Names whose popularity has moved with Karli's over the last 50 years.
