Carmel
Carmel is a name with a single cultural origin: English.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Carmel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Carmel is a name with a single cultural origin: English.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Carmel
As a girl name
American parents first put Carmel on the record books as a girl name in 1888, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1962, when 155 Carmels were born — ranking #846 that year. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,877 among girl names with 27 births, rising sharply (+62% over the past five years). In total, more than 7K Carmels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Carmel as a boy name dates back to 1906, when 5 babies received it. 1918 was its biggest year on record, with 49 newborns named Carmel — #949 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Carmels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 1K Carmels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Carmel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Carmel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Carmel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Carmel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carmel
What does the name Carmel mean?
What is the origin of the name Carmel?
How popular is Carmel in 2026?
When was Carmel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Carmel most popular?
Is Carmel a unisex name?
What names go well with Carmel?
What are nicknames or variants of Carmel?
About the name Carmel
Carmel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1888 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Carmel's peak popularity came in 1962 when it ranked #585. Use the chart and map above to compare Carmel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1962 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.