A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Carmela since 1882
Babies named Carmela per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 37 |
| 1890s | 280 |
| 1900s | 815 |
| 1910s | 3,461 |
| 1920s | 5,430 |
| 1930s | 2,885 |
| 1940s | 1,731 |
| 1950s | 1,720 |
| 1960s | 2,091 |
| 1970s | 1,400 |
| 1980s | 895 |
| 1990s | 674 |
| 2000s | 1,005 |
| 2010s | 1,131 |
| 2020s | 951 |
Meaning & origin
Carmela is a name with deep roots in Italian tradition and religious history. Derived from the Hebrew word for garden, it has been associated with Mount Carmel and the Virgin Mary since the Middle Ages. In the United States, Carmela first appeared in Social Security records in 1882 and saw its greatest popularity in 1923, when it ranked highest. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 1997. Today, Carmela is most common in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, states with historic Italian-American communities. Its gentle sound and strong heritage make it a distinctive choice with a sense of revival.
Carmela is the Italian feminine form of Carmel, derived from the Hebrew Karmel (כַּרְמֶל), meaning 'garden' or 'orchard,' referring to Mount Carmel in Israel. It has been used in Italy since the Middle Ages, often in honor of the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The name spread to the United States through Italian immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking in popularity in the 1920s.
Where Carmela is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Carmela” around the world
Where Carmela lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mela, Melly, Carmie, Carma
Sibling names for Carmela
Names that share Carmela's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Giovanna, Rosalia, Angela, Filomena, Assunta, Concetta, Imelda, Rosina, Herminia, Rosaria, Abelina, Carmie, Carmin, Congetta, Dorina, Marieta, Pasqualina, Andretta, Armeda, Carmelia, Concettina, Marialena, Marletta, Marycarmen, Marzella, Palmina, Larosa, Maryela
Brothers: Carmine, Salvatore, Antonio, Francesco, Giuseppe, Domenick, Salvadore, Alfonza, Bernardino, Herminio, Isidoro, Juventino, Nunzio, Sal, Aniello, Bartolo, Decarlo, Fortino, Hermilo, Pasqual, Alphonsa, Liborio, Sabatino, Veto, Bacilio, Filomeno, Alcario, Lasaro, Severino
