Carly

Carly is a feminine given name, often a diminutive of Carl or Carlos. It derives from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man." In English-speaking countries, Carly has been used since at least the 19th century and experienced renewed popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Variants include Carley, Carlie, Carlee, and Carlyle (less common as given name).

Notable people named Carly include Carly Fiorina, born 1954, American business executive and former Hewlett-Packard CEO; Carly Rae Jepsen, born 1985, Canadian singer-songwriter known for Call Me Maybe; Carly Simon, born 1945, American singer-songwriter and author; Carly Pearce, born 1990, American country musician; Carly Pope, born 1980, Canadian actress.

In fiction, Carly Shay is the fictional host of the Nickelodeon series iCarly, which premiered in 2007 and follows a teenage girl's web series and adventures. The character helped popularize the name among contemporary audiences and has remained a recognizable use of Carly in popular culture.

The name is primarily feminine in contemporary use; it appears in various countries and communities, with spelling variations more common in English-speaking regions. It is occasionally used as a standalone given name rather than as a nickname.