The nameCarmen
Carmen is a girl's name of Spanish origin, linked to the Virgin of Mount Carmel. Bizet's opera made it famous worldwide.
- Girl's name
- Spanish
Meaning
Carmen comes from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel meaning "garden, orchard" in Hebrew. In Latin, carmen means "song, poem".
Origin
Spanish. The Carmelite order takes its name from Mount Carmel, in Israel.
History
Bizet's opera Carmen (1875) made the name a symbol of passion. It is a classic in Spain and reached the American top 150.
Did you know?
- Georges Bizet died on 3 June 1875, three months after the premiere of Carmen, before his opera became a worldwide success.
Famous people named Carmen
- Carmen, heroine of Bizet
- Carmen Miranda, singer
- Carmen Electra, actress
- Carmen Sandiego, video game character
Popularity of the name Carmen
Carmen in the United States
Carmen was most popular in the United States in the 1960s, with 24,532 births over the decade, 15% of all recorded babies named Carmen. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1961. Half of all babies named Carmen in the United States were born before 1965, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 758 births a year.
Carmen in the United Kingdom
Carmen was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,211 births over the decade, 45% of all recorded babies named Carmen. Half of all babies named Carmen in the United Kingdom were born before 2008, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 55 births a year.
Carmen in France
Carmen in Switzerland
Carmen in Austria
Carmen in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Carmen
Names from the same generation as Carmen, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Carmen? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Carmen with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Carmen side by side with the name of your choice.
Carmen in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carmen mean?
Carmen comes from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Carmel meaning "garden, orchard" in Hebrew. In Latin, carmen means "song, poem".
What is the origin of the name Carmen?
Spanish. The Carmelite order takes its name from Mount Carmel, in Israel.
Is Carmen a girl's or a boy's name?
Carmen is a girl's name. In the United States, 89% of the babies named Carmen are girls.
How popular is the name Carmen?
In 2024, Carmen was the 416th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 751 births.
What are the variants of the name Carmen?
Variants and related names of Carmen include Carman.
What are good sibling names for Carmen?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Fatima, Nina, Alison and Heidi for a sister, Andre, Erick, Pablo and Pedro for a brother.
Who are famous people named Carmen?
Carmen, heroine of Bizet; Carmen Miranda, singer; Carmen Electra, actress; Carmen Sandiego, video game character.