Entry № 0693 · Spanish, Hebrew, Latin origin

Carmen Carmen — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ KAR-men /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Spanish, Hebrew, Latin
Meaning
"Garden, song"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 587
First recorded
Medieval

A name that means "garden, song".

Carmen has three braided origins. In Spanish, it derives from Carmel — from the Hebrew karmel, meaning "garden" or "orchard" — and is associated with the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In Latin, carmen means "song" or "poem." In Italian, it can also mean "crimson."

Bizet's opera Carmen (1875) made the name internationally famous, particularly through its tragic gypsy heroine. Today Carmen is among the most popular girl names in the Spanish-speaking world and is well-used in many other countries. In the U.S. it sits in the top 600 but is far higher in Spain, Mexico, and across Latin America.

Garden in Hebrew. Song in Latin. The same beautiful name.

Where Carmen stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 587 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 152 in 1955
Babies named Carmen · last year
547 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №152 NOW · №587

Carmens before her.

Real people
Carmen Miranda
Portuguese-Brazilian samba singer and actress.
1909 – 1955
Carmen Electra
American model and actress.
born 1972
In fiction
Carmen
Heroine of Georges Bizet's 1875 opera, based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée.
1875 opera

Names connected to Carmen.

The number behind Carmen.

7

The Seeker

Carmen reduces to seven — the number of independence, depth, and dignified solitude.

Why families chose this name.

"It's my grandmother's name on the Spanish side. We had no other choice."
Lucia · Mother of one · Madrid