Is Carmen a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Carmen is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Carmen?

It’s currently ranked #373 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Carmen?

CAR-men · IPA: //ˈkɑːr.mən//

Carmen Unisex

Popularity: #841 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationKAR-men / /ˈkɑːr.mən/

Latin; Spanish

Meaning

Latin: song; Spanish: garden

Historical & Cultural Background

Carmen is derived from the Latin word 'carmen,' meaning song or poem. It is also associated with the Spanish term 'carmen,' referring to a garden or orchard. The name has been popular in various cultures, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. It has been used for both males and females, although it is more commonly given to girls. The name gained prominence through religious and cultural references, including the Virgin of Carmen.

Trend Summary

Carmen has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable decline in recent decades.

Variants

Carmine
Carmelo

International Variants

Carmen (Spanish)
Carmine (Italian)
Karmen (Slavic)

Famous people named Carmen

Carmen Miranda was a Brazilian singer and actress known for her vibrant performances and iconic fruit hats.

Carmen Electra is an American actress and model recognized for her roles in television and film.

Carmen de Lavallade is an American dancer and actress celebrated for her contributions to the arts.

Carmen Jones is a fictional character from the musical and film of the same name, representing a modern adaptation of the opera 'Carmen.'.

Fictional characters named Carmen

Carmen Sandiego is a character from the educational video game series and animated television show, known for her globe-trotting adventures.

Carmen is a character in the opera 'Carmen,' which tells the story of a passionate and free-spirited woman.

Sibling Suggestions

Carlos Camilo Celia Clara Cristian Cassandra

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Carmen was first seen in the United States in 1894. Carmen has ranked as high as #594 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Carmen has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Carmen (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
PA	14	38%
OH	12	32%
TX	6	16%
IL	5	14%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1894	5
1895	5
1896	8
1897	5
1898	8
1899	10
1900	10
1901	12
1902	5
1903	11
1904	12
1905	12
1906	20
1907	23
1908	12
1909	26
1910	41
1911	56
1912	95
1913	124
1914	173
1915	211
1916	276
1917	258
1918	273
1919	256
1920	292
1921	316
1922	317
1923	303
1924	344
1925	335
1926	322
1927	327
1928	329
1929	270
1930	274
1931	246
1932	235
1933	266
1934	224
1935	211
1936	208
1937	215
1938	203
1939	201
1940	219
1941	231
1942	264
1943	230
1944	200
1945	170
1946	213
1947	234
1948	235
1949	224
1950	199
1951	201
1952	202
1953	220
1954	214
1955	194
1956	210
1957	237
1958	224
1959	232
1960	176
1961	221
1962	182
1963	168
1964	177
1965	159
1966	135
1967	134
1968	153
1969	142
1970	127
1971	126
1972	123
1973	106
1974	91
1975	114
1976	95
1977	95
1978	105
1979	77
1980	100
1981	107
1982	70
1983	71
1984	76
1985	77
1986	78
1987	85
1988	81
1989	67
1990	92
1991	67
1992	72
1993	68
1994	68
1995	63
1996	62
1997	48
1998	67
1999	49
2000	66
2001	38
2002	63
2003	47
2004	36
2005	54
2006	47
2007	45
2008	42
2009	26
2010	37
2011	38
2012	28
2013	26
2014	23
2015	23
2016	32
2017	17
2018	18
2019	29
2020	20
2021	26
2022	30
2023	51
2024	83