The name Carlie is a diminutive form of the name Caroline, which is derived from the ancient Germanic name Karlmann or Carolman. This name can be traced back to the 8th century and is a combination of the elements 'karl', meaning 'man', and 'mann', meaning 'man'. Essentially, Karlmann translates to 'strong man' or 'manly man'.

The name gained prominence due to the Carolingian dynasty of Frankish rulers, which included the famous Charlemagne (742-814), who ruled as the King of the Franks and later as the first Holy Roman Emperor. His father, Pepin the Short (714-768), was the first Carolingian king and played a significant role in the spread of the name.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Caroline can be found in the 9th century, referring to the daughter of the East Frankish king Louis the German. The name became popular in various European royal families and was later adopted by commoners.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Carlie or its variants. One of the earliest was Carloman (751-771), the son of Pepin the Short and the younger brother of Charlemagne. Another prominent figure was Caroline of Ansbach (1683-1737), the wife of King George II of Great Britain.

In literature, Carlie is the name of one of the main characters in the novel "The Valley of the Dolls" by Jacqueline Susann, published in 1966. The character, Carlie Fleckinger, is a young woman who becomes a successful actress.

Other notable individuals with the name Carlie include Carlie Trent (born 1974), an American actress and writer, and Carlie Nochlin (born 1925), an American art historian and academic.

It is worth noting that while the name Carlie is not as common as Caroline, it has maintained a presence throughout history, often used as a diminutive or nickname for the more traditional form of the name.