UK girl's name
Sharla
A feminine English name derived from Charla, of uncertain meaning.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sharla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2843, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 11 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 to 2010. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Sharla. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sharla ranked #2843 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 11 girls were registered as Sharla.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2843
2010
Births in 2010
8
Latest year
Peak year
1998
11 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Sharla mean?
The name Sharla finds its origins in the English language, emerging as a diminutive form of the name Charlotte. The name Charlotte itself derives from the French form of the Germanic name Karlotta, which means "free woman" or "petite."
The earliest recorded use of the name Sharla dates back to the late 19th century, with some of the earliest known bearers being Sharla Bentley (1870-1948), an American author, and Sharla Farnsworth (1885-1962), a British botanist. It is possible that the name gained popularity as a shortened form of Charlotte during this period.
One notable historical figure with the name Sharla was Sharla Kerner (1906-1992), a German-American artist known for her vibrant abstract expressionist paintings. Her works were exhibited in prestigious galleries across Europe and the United States.
Another individual of note was Sharla Wilkinson (1922-2008), an Australian aviator and one of the first women to obtain a commercial pilot's license in her country. She played a significant role in advancing women's participation in the aviation industry during the mid-20th century.
In the field of literature, Sharla Rothschild (1935-2018) was an acclaimed American novelist and playwright. Her works often explored themes of identity, relationships, and the human condition, earning her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Sharla Desai (1948-2022) was an Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded one of the country's largest pharmaceutical companies. She was widely recognized for her contributions to healthcare and her efforts in supporting education and women's empowerment initiatives.
Throughout history, the name Sharla has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields, each leaving their mark on their respective domains. While not an overly common name, it has maintained a presence across various cultures and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sharla over time
The chart below shows babies named Sharla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sharla, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2010, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sharla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharla was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #2843 | 8 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3523 | 35 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2396 | 21 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sharla
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sharla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sharla in the UK right now?
In 2010, Sharla was ranked #2843 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Sharla most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 11 babies registered as Sharla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sharla?
A feminine English name derived from Charla, of uncertain meaning.
How many people are called Sharla in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Sharla across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.