Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Carmen

Carmen

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced KAHR-muhn /ˈkΙ‘ΙΉ.mΙ™n/Medium

Meaning: SongMedium

In 30 seconds: Carmen is a Spanish name meaning 'song', used here for boys.
πŸ’• Browse more names
Origin MediumSpanish, Italian, English
MeaningSong
U.S. rank (2025)#1624 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births104 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1924
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 16,961

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192418942025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Carmen means 'song' in Spanish, and the word carries a lyrical, musical sense to match. While it is best known as a woman's name β€” borne by the performer Carmen Miranda (1909–1955) and the flamenco dancer Carmen Amaya (1913–1963) β€” it appears here on the boys' side. Its variations, from Carmela to Carme, show how widely it spread across Spanish and Portuguese speech.

The related forms Carmela, Carmina, Carmenza, Carmem and Carme trace the name across regions, each tuning the same 'song' to a slightly different ear.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Carmen is 'song', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Carmen β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

CarmelaCarminaCarmenzaCarmemCarme

Nicknames

β€”

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Carmen Miranda (1909–1955)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • β˜…Carmen Amaya (1913–1963)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Carmen…

Carmelaβ€” A listed variation of Carmen with an added ending.
Avenβ€” lands in the same popularity range
Lindenβ€” a fellow English choice
Calenβ€” a fellow English choice
Ravenβ€” echoes that soft -en sound

Explore names like Carmen

By themeenglishspanishnature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Carmen mean?

Carmen is usually explained as meaning 'song' and is most often linked with Spanish tradition.

How do you pronounce Carmen?

It's commonly said KAHR-muhn /ˈkΙ‘ΙΉ.mΙ™n/.

Is Carmen a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Carmen is used as a boy name.

How popular is Carmen?

In 2024, Carmen ranked #1903 in the U.S. for boys, with 83 births recorded.

πŸ’¬ Ask Nia