Carmen
Boy name · #1622 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Carmen? In official American birth records, Carmen has been tracked continuously since 1894, giving it 131 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 104 baby boys were named Carmen, placing it at #1622 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4295, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,308 boys born in 2025 was named Carmen.
Babies named Carmen per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 131-year story
Carmen first appears in the Social Security records in 1894, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 344 boys were named Carmen — good for #308 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carmen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carmen in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Carmen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Carmen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Carmen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carmen is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Carmen is most common in PA (0.2 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000), IL (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Carmen is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Carmen
Statistically, parents drawn to Carmen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Milton, Ervin, Chester, Myron, and Vernon.
MiltonErvinChesterMyronVernonCecilMarionHerman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carmen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 104 | #1621 |
| 2024 | 83 | #1902 |
| 2023 | 51 | #2575 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4011 |
| 2020 | 20 | #4698 |
| 2019 | 29 | #3716 |
| 2018 | 18 | #5106 |
| 2017 | 17 | #5297 |
| 2016 | 32 | #3441 |
| 2015 | 23 | #4295 |
| 2014 | 23 | #4263 |
| 2013 | 26 | #3864 |
| 2012 | 28 | #3714 |
| 2011 | 38 | #3000 |
| 2010 | 37 | #3072 |
| 2009 | 26 | #3919 |
| 2008 | 42 | #2828 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2684 |
| 2006 | 47 | #2542 |
| 2005 | 54 | #2206 |
| 2004 | 36 | #2843 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2269 |
| 2002 | 63 | #1817 |
| 2001 | 38 | #2520 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Carmen?
In official American birth records, the name Carmen first appeared in 1894 (over 131 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Carmen a popular boy name?
Carmen ranked #1622 among boys in 2025 with 104 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4295.
When was the name Carmen most popular?
Carmen peaked in 1924, when 344 American boys received the name (ranked #308 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carmen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,308 newborn American boys was named Carmen. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.