Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Carmen
GirlSpanish, Hebrew· “garden”
- Meaning
- garden
- Origin
- Spanish, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- KAHR-muhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #389
- US babies 2025
- 798
- Best rank
- #141 (1968)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Carmen
Carmen is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “garden”.
Carmen is the Spanish form of Carmel, taken from the title of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel in Israel gets its name from a Hebrew word meaning garden or orchard. In Spanish the name also blended with the Latin word carmen, meaning song or poem, which adds a musical note. Prosper Mérimée's novella Carmen and Georges Bizet's opera based on it made the name internationally famous through its fiery, independent heroine. Carmen is widely used across Spain and Latin America and feels both classic and bold. Nicknames include Carmencita and Menchu in Spanish.
Other spellings with the same sound: Carmine, Carman, Carmon, Karman.
Popularity over time
Carmen first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 145 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #141 in 1968, and the most babies received it in 1960, when 2,440 were named Carmen. In 2025, 798 babies were named Carmen, and it ranked #389 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #237 in 1920, #186 in 1950, #183 in 1980, #270 in 2000, #314 in 2010, and #389 in 2025. Of the 142,795 US girls named Carmen since records began, 16% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 18,953 babies. Since 2010, 12,937 more have been named Carmen.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lynne, Teri, Shelia, Tami, and Toni.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Carmen ranked highest in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #250 | 11 |
| Tennessee | #257 | 30 |
| Washington | #265 | 27 |
| Iowa | #281 | 12 |
| Ohio | #282 | 39 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Carmen over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Carmen is usually pronounced KAHR-muhn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with C and ends in “-en”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Carmine, Carman, Carmon, and Karman.
Middle names for Carmen
A few middle names that flow with Carmen: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Carmen
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Lists that include Carmen
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carmen mean?
Carmen is a Spanish and Hebrew name that means “garden”.
What is the origin of the name Carmen?
Carmen has Spanish and Hebrew roots. Carmen is the Spanish form of Carmel, taken from the title of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Is Carmen a popular name?
Yes. Carmen ranked #389 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Carmen a boy or girl name?
Carmen is mainly a girl's name. About 96% of US babies named Carmen over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Carmen?
Carmen is usually pronounced KAHR-muhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings