Carlye is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Ceallach', which means 'stranger'. It's also associated with the Anglo-Norman name Carlile, which means 'from the bright meadow'. The name Carlye gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 19th century. It was famously borne by the Scottish historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), who was known for his influential works on history and social issues.
The name Carlye experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, with peak years being 1984 (31 births), 1987 (27 births), and 1992 (45 births). However, it has since declined, with only 6 births recorded in both 2011 and 2017. In total, there were 1066 babies named Carlye from 1944 to 2017.