Carla
Carla is the feminine of Carl or Charles, both from the Germanic "karl" — meaning free man. The feminine form means "free woman." The name has been used in Italian, German, and English contexts for centuries, though it became most common as a first name in the 20th century. Carla peaked in the US at #119 in 1962 and has been declining since. The most famous bearers are Carla Bruni (born 1967), the Italian-French singer and former First Lady of France (married to Nicolas Sarkozy), and Carla Gugino (born 1971), the American actress. Carla has a strong Italian identity, partly because the name ends in "a" which is the standard Italian feminine ending. I find Carla slightly plain compared to Charlotte or Caroline — it lacks their elegance. But it has a direct, capable sound. The "C" opening is strong, and the doubled "a" gives it openness. The name has been outside the US top 500 since 2009 and is unlikely to return soon, but it has too much history to disappear entirely. Carla is a female name of Germanic / Latin origin that means "Free woman (feminine of Carl/Charles)". Direct, capable, and a little plain. The name sounds Italian-American. Carl as a surname has more flair. US peaked #119 in 1962. Outside top 500 since 2009. Well-known people named Carla include Carla Bruni (singer/First Lady), Carla Gugino (actress), Carla Hall (chef), Carla (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Carla include Carla (Italian), Karla (German), Carlota (Spanish), Carlene (elaboration).