Karmel
Karmel (/ˈkar.mɛl/) is a surname and a masculine given name. It is reported as one of the surnames used by the Jews in Ireland. In the Dictionary of American Family Names (2003) it is described as a surname of the Jews from Poland. The same publication cites its origin as the Polish work karmel. Notable people with the name include:
- Hebrew
Meaning & Origin of Karmel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Karmel (/ˈkar.mɛl/) is a surname and a masculine given name. It is reported as one of the surnames used by the Jews in Ireland. In the Dictionary of American Family Names (2003) it is described as a surname of the Jews from Poland. The same publication cites its origin as the Polish work karmel. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hebrew
The Story of Karmel
As a girl name
Karmel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1955, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1966: 10 births, good for #4,198 nationwide. The 1960s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 41% of all recorded Karmels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2021 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 137 Karmels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Karmel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2006, with 10 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2006: 10 births, good for #7,427 nationwide. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 71% of all recorded Karmels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2012 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 21 Karmels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Karmel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Karmel 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 Karmel
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How popular is Karmel in 2026?
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About the name Karmel
Karmel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1955 and has accumulated 137 births in the dataset. Karmel's peak popularity came in 1966 when it ranked #4,198. Use the chart and map above to compare Karmel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1966 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- 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.