Carlee Girl

Popularity: #847 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAR-lee //ˈkɑːrli//

Origin: English; variant of Carly

Meaning: Free man; strong

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Carlee is a modern variant of the name Carly, which itself is derived from the Old English name "Ceorl," meaning "man" or "free man." The transition from Ceorl to Carly involved the adaptation of the name through various linguistic influences, including the Norman Conquest, which introduced many Old French names into English. The name Carly became more widely recognized in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a feminine form of Charles, which has roots in the Germanic name "Karl," also meaning "man." The spelling Carlee represents a contemporary twist on this traditional name, reflecting a trend towards creative variations in naming practices.

Historically, the name Charles has been borne by numerous notable figures, including Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who was crowned Emperor of the Romans in the year 800, and several kings of France and England. The feminine forms of Charles, including Carly and Carlee, gained traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly as women’s rights movements began to influence naming conventions.

The name Carly was notably popularized in the United States through various cultural references, including literature and media, although specific milestones for Carlee as a distinct form are less documented. Culturally, names derived from Charles often carry connotations of strength and nobility, reflecting the historical significance of the name.

The use of diminutive forms, such as Carly, has allowed for a more personal and affectionate connection to the name while maintaining its roots. The variant Carlee, with its unique spelling, embodies a modern sensibility while still being linked to a rich historical lineage, representing both tradition and contemporary identity.

Famous people named Carlee

In this section, you will find notable people named Carlee. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Carlee who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Carlee who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Carlee Russell is a former nursing student best known for her involvement in a widely publicized missing person case.

Carlee McNulty is a professional athlete best known for her achievements in competitive swimming.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carlee, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Carlee. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Carlee was first seen in the United States in 1902.

Carlee has ranked as high as #1202 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Carlee has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Carlee is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Carlee was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Carlee.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 101 0 101
2024 121 0 121
2023 117 0 117
2022 158 0 158
2021 157 0 157
2020 167 0 167
2019 184 0 184
2018 239 0 239
2017 264 0 264
2016 317 0 317
2015 371 0 371
2014 336 0 336
2013 367 0 367
2012 365 0 365
2011 369 0 369
2010 360 0 360
2009 464 0 464
2008 435 5 430
2007 445 0 445
2006 444 0 444
2005 459 0 459
2004 432 0 432
2003 390 5 385
2002 392 0 392
2001 362 0 362
2000 407 6 401
1999 362 0 362
1998 391 0 391
1997 377 0 377
1996 326 0 326
1995 302 0 302
1994 288 0 288
1993 294 0 294
1992 297 0 297
1991 222 0 222
1990 144 0 144
1989 142 0 142
1988 113 0 113
1987 109 0 109
1986 94 0 94
1985 106 0 106
1984 92 0 92
1983 68 0 68
1982 89 0 89
1981 54 0 54
1980 53 6 47
1979 35 0 35
1978 39 0 39
1977 32 0 32
1976 41 0 41
1975 27 0 27
1974 39 0 39
1973 33 0 33
1972 16 0 16
1971 7 0 7
1970 8 0 8
1969 9 0 9
1968 8 0 8
1967 6 0 6
1966 13 5 8
1965 7 0 7
1964 8 0 8
1963 16 5 11
1962 12 0 12
1961 13 7 6
1960 9 0 9
1959 6 0 6
1958 6 0 6
1957 5 0 5
1956 16 5 11
1955 11 5 6
1954 20 8 12
1953 6 6 0
1952 13 7 6
1951 8 0 8
1950 17 5 12
1949 15 0 15
1948 18 6 12
1947 13 7 6
1946 14 5 9
1945 10 0 10
1944 19 7 12
1943 23 6 17
1942 13 5 8
1941 13 7 6
1940 15 8 7
1939 9 0 9
1938 18 7 11
1937 12 5 7
1936 12 6 6
1935 18 8 10
1934 19 5 14
1933 18 6 12
1932 30 11 19
1931 19 9 10
1930 24 15 9
1929 22 7 15
1928 22 9 13
1927 9 0 9
1926 22 8 14
1925 19 7 12
1924 24 10 14
1923 18 9 9
1922 21 12 9
1921 26 9 17
1920 22 11 11
1919 16 0 16
1918 23 9 14
1917 19 6 13
1916 9 0 9
1915 16 6 10
1913 6 0 6
1912 14 7 7
1911 6 0 6
1910 7 0 7
1902 5 0 5

Top States for Carlee (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 11
17%
TN 10
15%
PA 7
11%
FL 7
11%
KY 6
9%
LA 5
8%
NC 5
8%
OH 5
8%
GA 5
8%
MI 5
8%