Given name
Carmela
“garden”·“of the fruitful orchard”·“a beautiful song”
Carmela is a form of Carmel. Interpretations include “garden” (Hebrew) and “of the fruitful orchard” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. Carmela is a diminutive of Carmen. One Latin interpretation is “a beautiful song.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Carmela is a form of Carmel. Interpretations include “garden” (Hebrew) and “of the fruitful orchard” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. Carmela is a diminutive of Carmen. One Latin interpretation is “a beautiful song.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Carmela is a form of Carmel. An origin associated with Carmel is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Cebuano usage, Carmela is a diminutive of Carmen.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carmela through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 24,511
- 5 boys · 24,506 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 586 babies
- 2025
- 186
- #1,219 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +28%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 186 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,219 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 28.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 586 in 1923. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (32). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 18,223 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carmela’s family of names
In Cebuano usage, Carmela is a diminutive of Carmen. Carmela has a masculine form in Carmelo. Carmela has a related form in Carmel.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Carmela has relatives in 6 languages.
4 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Carmelomasculine form · Italian
- Carmellaequivalent
- Carmelinaequivalent
- Carmelitaequivalent
- Carminaequivalent
- Karmelaequivalent
- Carminiaequivalent
- karmélaequivalent
Show 1 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Carmela
- Carmela CorrenIsraeli singer and actress (1938–2022)
- Carmela ZumbadoAmerican actress and social media personalityborn 1991
- Carmela SilvaSpanish politicianborn 1960
- Carmela GrossBrazilian visual artist and educator (born 1946)
- Carmela ChiacchioItalian boxerborn 1981
- Carmela Jeria GómezChilean labour activist, typesetter and editor1901–1966
- Carmen LasorellaItalian journalistborn 1955
- Carmela CombePeruvian pioneer aviator1898–1984
- Carmela GrippaItalian politicianborn 1973
Characters named Carmela: Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos), Carmela Corleone (The Godfather series).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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