Carmen
How to say it: KAR-men · /ˈkɑrmən/
Medieval Spanish form of Carmel, from the devotional title Our Lady of Mount Carmel; its spelling was reshaped by association with Latin carmen (song). source 1
Carmen was the 347th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 798 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are down about 18% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #371 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #347 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 798 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,475 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −18% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #371 |
| In France, 2025 | #387 among girls’ names, 125 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Fading from a 1960s high, Carmen now rests well below its peak. Further slipping is likely ahead.
What goes with it
Warm and soft, pronounced KAR men, it travels easily and carries a musical artistic air. Gloria echoes its rhythm, while Carmie gives a cozy option.
Middle names that flow with Carmen →
Nicknames
- Carm
- Carmie
Honouring a Carmen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Carmen is about 1 in 145.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #387 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Carmen
- Carmen Electra (born 1972)American actress, model, and singer
- Carmen Kass (born 1978)Estonian model and actress
- Carmen Amaya (1918–1963)Spanish flamenco dancer and singer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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