View Message

I think it's pretty cute. I like the -ly ending. I can see how some might think it's juvenile, but I think it seems casual and tidy, like the ly in Tilly or Ally.
It's dated, yes, but was never so popular all at once that it is super dated. It's dated sort of like Darcy (f) is, in my mind.

---

I associate Carly Simon really strongly, which is a positive association now, but was less so back in the 90s, it would have been kind of like Stevie (Nicks). It surprised me a bit that Carly got popular in the 90s. Seemed a couple decades late, for its sound.

---

I also think of iCarly, which doesn't seem like a positive association, but isn't really bad either. Not as bad as Miley. More like Ally (as in Ally McBeal). In retrospect, Carly also seems like sort of a forerunner to Harley, Marley, and Kaylee.

---

I think as a baby name today, it would be cute, but probably would be better appreciated as a nickname for another name.

My cousin is named this - and in her family, this is the most and most mature-sounding of her siblings names.

---

I don't hate it, but it's always struck me as fairly insubstantial as a given name. I also think it's fairly dated at this point. It might be nice as a nickname for Caroline or something like that.

---

Most other spellings aren't great. Karly and Carley aren't great, but Karlie is especially not great.

It is kind of cute, but I do see it as dated because I grew up with a lot of girls with this name who were all born in the early '90s. For some reason, the most common spelling of girls I know is Carlye, which doesn't make a lot of sense. I suppose Karly, Carlie, and Karlie are acceptable, but I prefer the spelling Carly by far.

I like this name. I'll use Carly speilling.

I first heard it from iCarly, and didn't think about it as a feminine form of Carl or a NN for longer names. I think it's cute but it's not really my style. I think Carley, Karley, and Karlie are the prettier spellings.

Always loved the name Carly!

I like it. It’s a little bit dated - I think of it as very 80s/90s - but it’s sweet.

I like Karlie. It would have to be a nn though. There's something juvenile about it, not in a bad way exactly, but it's hard to imagine on an adult.

It's not really my thing. I mean it's not among the worst names out there for sure, but I do find it incredibly annoying & whiny. I have no idea if whether that's due to association, the way the name sounds itself, or perhaps both, but I can't help but to think of that adjective whenever it comes to this name. I vastly prefer Carla

---

Carly.

This message was edited 6/3/2025, 12:05 PM

It's a very nice sound. I particularly like it spelled Karlee.

My Cousin's wife is named Carly. I don't love it. Sounds immature.

I don't think it's dated at all, although I don't care much for it and prefer Carla and Karla. Carly is the only spelling I tolerate.

While I don't think it's dated, it's just not my style.

I like it a lot. I don't think it's dated. It feels much more youthful than Carla, which I also like. I'd spell it Carly or maybe Carlee/Karlee.

Carley is my sister's name! Our dad spelled out every single possibility, and he liked the "e" spelling the best.

I like Carly. I like it spelled Carly.

It is a bit dated but I like it too much to care. I’d spell it Carly. I think it would be an adorable nn for Carlotta, which I like a lot.