Carmen

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Carmen

Gender: Feminine and Masculine
Language: Spanish
Etymology:
Carmel is a Hebrew name meaning “Garden.” Carmen is the Spanish version of Carmel.

History:
Carmel was a mountain in Palestine where the Virgin Mary is said to have been (later, the Carmelite monastic order was founded there). Carmel, or Carmen, was originally a title affixed to the her. Spanish speakers would refer to Nuestra Señora de los Carmen, or Carmel (Our Lady of the Garden). Many girls would be given a contracted version like María Carmen, or Maricarmen. Later, the titles themselves became names. In this particular instance, the name was also given to males.

Pronunciation: car-mell.

Diminutives:
Spanish: Menchu.

Alternates (female): Carmelita, Carmelina, Carmelia.
Hawaiian: Kalamela.
Italian: Carmela.
Latin: Carmella.
Portuguese: Carmo.
Spanish: Carmen, Carmencita.

Alternates (male):
Italian: Carmine, Carmelo, Carmello.

See also: Carmel.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Carmen Laforet (f., 1921-)
Spanish novelist.

Fictional Characters:
Carmen (f., 1921-)
Georges Bizet’s opera.
Carmen Santiago (f.)
A fictional world criminal in a popular series of educational computer games.

Miscellaneous:
Carmen Polo de Franco (f., 1900-1988)
Wife of Francisco Franco.

Singers and Entertainers:
Carmen McRae (f., 1920-1994)
American jazz singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.195 % named Carmen
0.018 % named Carmela
0.012 % named Carmella
0.006 % named Carmel
0.006 % named Carmelita
0.002 % named Carmelina
0.001 % named Carmelia

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.011 % named Carmen
0.009 % named Carmelo
0.007 % named Carmine

Popularity of Carmen, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 171st most popular.
1910-1920: 151st most popular.
1920-1930: 105th most popular.
1930-1940: 58th most popular.
1940-1950: 50th most popular.
1950-1960: 76th most popular.
1960-1970: 89th most popular.
1970-1980: 110th most popular.
1980-1990: 178th most popular.
1990: 182nd most popular.
1991: 199th most popular.
1992: 204th most popular.
1993: 222nd most popular.
1994: 225th most popular.
1995: 260th most popular.
1996: 305th most popular.
1997: 269th most popular.
1998: 273rd most popular.
1999: 273rd most popular.
2000: 266th most popular.
2001: 265th most popular.
2002: 298th most popular.
2003: 251st most popular.

In France...
1900: 127th most popular.
1910: 103rd most popular.
1920: 93rd most popular.
1930: 81st most popular.
1940: 124th most popular.
1950: 127th most popular.
1960: 125th most popular.
1970: 191st most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Carmen, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 642nd most popular.
1910-1920: 402nd most popular.
1920-1930: 327th most popular.
1930-1940: 373rd most popular.
1940-1950: 421st most popular.
1950-1960: 512th most popular.
1960-1970: 576th most popular.
1970-1980: 863rd most popular.
1980-1990: 900th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Carmine:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 489th most popular.
1910-1920: 416th most popular.
1920-1930: 456th most popular.
1930-1940: 596th most popular.
1940-1950: 566th most popular.
1950-1960: 707th most popular.
1960-1970: 790th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A