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Carmela

Girl name · Mexican

Meaninggarden · Hebrew

Carmela is a Mexican girl name meaning “garden”, with Hebrew roots. Many Hebrew names come from the Bible, which is why they've been carried through families for thousands of years. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.

Did you know?

  • AnagramShuffle the letters of Carmela and you get Marcela. Same letters, different name.
  • GenerationCarmela peaked in 1923, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Carmela would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 8,643 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryCarmela first shows up in US birth records in 1882, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 143 years since.
  • Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Carmelas? Head to Connecticut, where it's the #298 girl name, its best showing of any state.
Baby toes with a little yellow flower
hello, little Carmela

US births per million girls, 1882–2025

024549018821920196020002025

Most popular states (2025)

CT rank #298NJ rank #348NY rank #518MA rank #564PA rank #647

Similar names

Unisex name: CarterGirl name: CarolineUnisex name: CarsonGirl name: DanielaGirl name: GabrielaUnisex name: Carmen
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Carmela

Carmela is a girl name of Mexican origin meaning “garden”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm, and it's now coming back into style. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Mexican names

More Mexican girl names

Questions about the name Carmela

What does the name Carmela mean?

Carmela means “garden” and comes from Hebrew. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Carmen (“garden”), Leslie (“holly garden”), Lesly (“holly garden”) and Jannah (“paradise, garden”).

What is the origin of the name Carmela?

Carmela is Mexican in origin, and its meaning traces back to Hebrew. Other Mexican names to consider are Olivia (“olive tree”), Emma (“whole, universal”), Amelia (“work, industrious”) and Mia (“possibly beloved”).

Is Carmela a boy or girl name?

Carmela is a girl name. In 2025, 186 US girls were named Carmela.

How popular is the name Carmela?

Carmela ranked #1,219 for US girls in 2025, given to 186 babies. Its best year was 1923, when it reached #266. Over the last five years it has climbed 314 places.

What names are similar to Carmela?

If you like Carmela, you might also like Carmen, Leslie, Lesly and Jannah.

What should I know before naming my baby Carmela?

Carmela is a Mexican girl name meaning “garden”, with Hebrew roots. Many Hebrew names come from the Bible, which is why they've been carried through families for thousands of years. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.