Carmilla Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kar-MIL-uh //kɑːrˈmɪlə//
Origin: Spanish; Italian
Meaning: Spanish: 'little song'; Italian: 'song'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Carmilla has its roots in the Hebrew word "karmel," meaning "garden" or "orchard." This term was adopted into Latin as "Carmelus," referring to Mount Carmel, a significant biblical location in ancient Israel. The name was further transmitted into various languages, including Old French, before making its way into English.
The association with Mount Carmel is particularly notable in the context of the Carmelite Order, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the 12th century, which emphasizes a contemplative life and has a strong connection to the Virgin Mary. Carmilla gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly due to its association with the novella "Carmilla" written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu in 1872.
This work is one of the earliest examples of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker's "Dracula" by over two decades. The character of Carmilla, a female vampire, has had a lasting impact on the genre, influencing subsequent portrayals of female vampires in literature and popular culture.
The novella explores themes of sexuality, identity, and the supernatural, contributing to its enduring legacy in gothic literature. Culturally, the name Carmilla evokes a sense of mystery and allure, often associated with the darker aspects of femininity and the supernatural.
The character's complex nature has led to various interpretations and adaptations in film, theater, and other media, reinforcing the name's significance in the gothic tradition. The name also has a diminutive form, "Carmie," which has been used in various contexts, though it is less historically significant than the full form.
Overall, Carmilla's etymological roots, literary milestones, and cultural resonance contribute to its rich historical tapestry.
Fictional characters named Carmilla
The following list of fictional characters named Carmilla is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Carmilla is a fictional character from the novella Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. She is a female vampire who preys on young women and is one of the earliest representations of female vampirism in literature.
Carmilla is a fictional character from the web series Carmilla. She is a vampire and a central figure in the story, navigating her relationships and conflicts with other characters in a modern university setting.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carmilla, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Carmilla. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Carmilla was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Carmilla has ranked as high as #4247 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Carmilla has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Carmilla is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Carmilla was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Carmilla.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 | 11 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 |
| 1990 | 5 | 5 |
| 1988 | 7 | 7 |
| 1987 | 9 | 9 |
| 1986 | 10 | 10 |
| 1985 | 12 | 12 |
| 1983 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 6 | 6 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 |
| 1979 | 8 | 8 |
| 1977 | 14 | 14 |
| 1976 | 8 | 8 |
| 1975 | 10 | 10 |
| 1974 | 5 | 5 |
| 1973 | 11 | 11 |
| 1972 | 10 | 10 |
| 1971 | 9 | 9 |
| 1970 | 10 | 10 |
| 1969 | 8 | 8 |
| 1967 | 11 | 11 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 5 | 5 |
| 1964 | 8 | 8 |
| 1963 | 9 | 9 |
| 1962 | 8 | 8 |
| 1961 | 7 | 7 |
| 1960 | 9 | 9 |
| 1957 | 7 | 7 |
| 1956 | 9 | 9 |
| 1955 | 8 | 8 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 |
| 1952 | 8 | 8 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 |
| 1949 | 5 | 5 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 |
| 1944 | 6 | 6 |
| 1942 | 5 | 5 |
| 1936 | 6 | 6 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 | 5 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 |
| 1927 | 10 | 10 |
| 1923 | 12 | 12 |
| 1922 | 10 | 10 |
| 1921 | 15 | 15 |
| 1919 | 8 | 8 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 |
| 1916 | 9 | 9 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Carmilla
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.