What does Carlotta mean?
Carlotta is the Italian form of Charlotte, “free.”
What does Gaia mean?
Gaia names the Greek earth goddess and carries the sense “rejoicing.”
Carlotta vs Gaia
Which is more popular?
Gaia is more popular than Carlotta today: about 157 US babies were given the name Gaia in 2025, compared with 35 named Carlotta.
| Carlotta | Gaia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Free | Earth; rejoicing |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | kar-LOT-tah | GY-ah |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1980 |
| Peak year | 1948 (255) | 2023 (219) |
| In 2025 | 35 | 157 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Carlotta
Gaia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Carlotta | Gaia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 220 | 1,133 |
| 2010s | 160 | 836 |
| 2000s | 130 | 317 |
| 1990s | 213 | 116 |
| 1980s | 366 | 32 |
| 1970s | 787 | 0 |
| 1960s | 872 | 0 |
| 1950s | 1,286 | 0 |
| 1940s | 1,225 | 0 |
| 1930s | 400 | 0 |
| 1920s | 322 | 0 |
| 1910s | 244 | 0 |
| 1900s | 87 | 0 |
| 1890s | 81 | 0 |
| 1880s | 69 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Carlotta or Gaia more popular?
Gaia is more popular than Carlotta today: about 157 US babies were given the name Gaia in 2025, compared with 35 named Carlotta.
What is the difference between Carlotta and Gaia?
Carlotta means Free (Italian origin), while Gaia means Earth; rejoicing (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Carlotta or Gaia?
In US records, Carlotta first appears in 1880 and Gaia in 1980, so Carlotta has the longer recorded history.