Karla is a female given name of Spanish origin, derived from the Spanish word "karla," which means "strong" or "powerful." The name has been popular in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries for many years, but it has also gained recognition internationally due to its distinctive sound and meaning.
The exact origin of the name Karla is uncertain, but some sources suggest that it may have been inspired by the Germanic name Carl, which means "freeholder" or "strong." Other sources propose that Karla is a variation of the Spanish name Carla, which is derived from the Latin word "carulus," meaning "small and strong."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Karla. One of the most famous was Karla Kay (1952-2016), an American actress who appeared in several television shows and films during the 1970s and 1980s. Additionally, Karla Homolka is a Canadian woman who gained notoriety in the 1990s for her involvement in the Bernardo-Homolka murders.
Despite its association with some controversial figures, the name Karla remains popular among parents seeking distinctive and meaningful names for their daughters. The name's strong and powerful meaning continues to appeal to many people, while its unique sound makes it stand out from more common female names.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe an interesting trend regarding the number of births with the name Karla in the United States from 1915 to 2023.
From 1915 to 1971, there was a steady increase in the number of newborn girls named Karla. The peak of this period occurred in 1961 with 1872 births, marking an impressive rise compared to the mere 7 births recorded in both 1915 and 1916.
However, after reaching its zenith in 1961, the popularity of the name Karla began to decline. Between 1972 and 1980, there was a significant drop in the number of newborn girls named Karla, from 1121 births in 1972 to just 948 in 1978.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, the popularity of the name Karla stabilized, fluctuating between approximately 860 and 1150 births per year. The number of newborn girls named Karla reached its peak in this period during 1992 with 1157 births.
From 1993 onwards, there was another decline in the popularity of the name Karla. By 2008, the number of newborn girls named Karla had decreased to 1420 births per year, and it continued to decrease over the next decade.
In recent years, the number of newborn girls named Karla has remained relatively low compared to previous decades. Between 2015 and 2023, there were between 395 and 616 births each year for girls named Karla in the United States. Despite this decline, it is still worth noting that over the entire period from 1915 to 2023, a total of 90850 newborn girls were given the name Karla.
In conclusion, while the name Karla experienced periods of popularity and decline throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century, it remains a recognizable name with a significant number of bearers in the United States.