Carmen
Boy name · #1622 in 2025 · Uniqueness 39/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Carmen scores 39 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Carmen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carmen is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Carmens were OH (11), PA (11), IL (10), NY (8), CA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 39/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.