Carmen

Updated: August 23, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Carmen is a name that feels tropical and full of life. It comes from Spanish culture, originated around the time of the Middle Ages. Carmen is still a top 500 name in America, and has been on the Social Security Popularity Index since the beginning.

Meaning of the name Carmen:

Latin: poem, song
Spanish: garden

Origin of the name Carmen:

The baby name Carmen was created during Medieval times. It was the Spanish version of the name Carmel, which comes from the Hebrew word “karmel” meaning “garden.” “Karmel” was actually a mountain in ancient Israel. The baby name and mountain name may have received influence, however, from the Latin word “carmen” which means “song.”

Symbolism of the name Carmen:

Carmen could mean “garden” if you focus on the Mountain Karmel that the name originates from. If focusing on the influence of the Latin word that is actually “carmen,” however, it means “song” or “poem.”

Style of the name Carmen:

Traditional

Gender of the name Carmen:

Carmen is a unisex name — it's given to both boys and girls.

Pronunciation of the name Carmen:

KAHR-men

Number of syllables in the name Carmen:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Carmen:

Carmen feels flavorful, tropical, and international. It is flirty, full of life, extravagant, and even feisty.

Alternative spellings for the name Carmen:

Karmen
Carmyn
Carmin
Karmin
Karmyn

Nicknames for the name Carmen:

Car car
Carm
Cammie
Cammy
Cami
Carms

Popularity of the name Carmen:

The baby name Carmen has been on the top 200 list from 1927 to 1930, 1936, 1941, and from 1949 to 1981. Throughout most of the last century, it has been a top 300 name. In recent years, Carmen is a top 500 name, however, and in 2020, it ranked at 433.